current applications of coronary and cardiac multidetector computed tomography

cardiovascular disease remains the principal cause of death in the modernized world.   several novel noninvasive imaging techniques have been recently developed to improve diagnosis of cardiac and coronary disease.   of these advances, multidetector computed tomographic (mdct) angiography has evolved most dramatically to transform computed tomography from a single-slice trans-axial modality to a three-dimensional volumetric technique.   current generation 64-detector row ct scanners allow for large volume coverage with submillimeter spatial and sub-second temporal resolution.   these advances enable important new applications for mdct in the assessment of cardiac and coronary anatomy.   in this report, we discuss in depth potential appropriate uses of cardiac and coronary mdct angiography.