Proactive Cardiac Ct Scans May Be Useful To Identify Other Health Problems

Coronary artery calcium (CAC) CT scans are becoming a much commonly utilized instrumentality to efficaciously find a patient's early consequence of bosom illness and bosom attack.

These minimally invasive scans measurement really overmuch calcium is already coming successful nan arteries of nan heart, truthful that clinicians tin find if a diligent needs aesculapian involution aliases different preventative measures, including statin medications.

Now an important caller study from bosom researchers at Intermountain Health successful Salt Lake City finds that regular coronary artery calcium CT scans are besides proving to beryllium effective successful uncovering different aesculapian issues successful patients, immoderate of them life-threatening.

In astir 1 successful 10 of these kinds of bosom scans, we're uncovering different imaginable aesculapian issues. They could beryllium nothing, arsenic galore abnormalities connected these kinds of scans are. But they could beryllium thing much significant, arsenic was nan lawsuit for 1 study subordinate who had emergency room owed to a uncovering connected his CAC CT scan." 

Brent Muhlestein, MD, co-director of research, Intermountain Medical Center

The findings are portion of nan Intermountain CorCal objective trial, which randomized asymptomatic, different patient patients to person their consequence of processing plaque buildup successful their arteries successful 1 of 2 ways: either done existent curen standards aliases a CAC CT scan. 

Of nan 2,284 patients successful nan Intermountain study who received CAC CT scans, radiologists recovered different perchance important aesculapian findings successful 247 – aliases 8.5% – of patients.

More than half of these findings were lung abnormalities, but issues were besides recovered successful conscionable astir each organ included successful nan CT scan area, including esophagus, liver, kidney, breast, bony and different parts of nan heart.

"These results show that proactive cardiac CT scans whitethorn beryllium useful to place different wellness issues for patients, beyond cardiac calcium levels," said Dr. Muhlestein.

Findings from nan study were presented astatine nan American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2025 successful in New Orleans.

Of those 247 patients, 2 thirds were referred for travel up care. Of that group, 23 patients were recovered to person thoracic aortic aneurysms, which are bulges successful nan portion of nan aorta successful nan chest, larger than 4.5 centimeters. 

One of these patients was 8 centimeters, which is considered an emergency.

"That diligent went into room wrong a week of america uncovering it," Dr. Muhlestein said. "We're assured successful saying we've saved astatine slightest 1 life done this study and that this instrumentality whitethorn beryllium useful successful different preventive ways." 

Previous investigation from nan Intermountain CorCal study has already shown that CAC CT scans whitethorn beryllium effective arsenic a measurement of determining which patients mightiness use from statin medicine to protect their bosom health. 

Whether it's worthy nan clip and disbursal to grow nan activity of radiologists reference these scans has yet to beryllium determined, said Dr. Muhlestein.

"These findings don't show if each diligent who was recommended for travel up attraction needed it. But nan findings from our study are important capable that it's worthy asking that question. We'll proceed to research these findings arsenic a preventive wellness tool," he said.