I guess this is a follow up to my previous post about how difficult it is to find heart damage/problems....

My local hospital is offering cardiac CT scans. I've heard that you are exposed to some radiation, and most insurance plans will not cover it.

But due to my symptoms (pvcs, pacs, pain, chronic fatigue, pounding), I am at the point where I will have every test available - just so I can sleep at night & believe the doctor when he said "your fine......."

Has anyone had a heart CT scan, or an MRI ???

Thanks!

I've not had but from what I've seen shown on television they are amazing. In reference to your question above about womens smaller vessels I don't know whether those would show up on this test either.

Thanks. I'm going to look into this further.

My sister said the MRI's are supposed to be fantastic for the smaller vessels, etc.. but apparently it's more scarce / new procedure.

Take care.....

From what I know CT Scans and MRI/MRA do not show electrical problems they only show tissue, muscle, vessel type pictures.

I have ha MRI/MRA prior to my Pacemaker days and it was for structure and to check for clots. So I would say not they are not worth doing.

Problem isn they aren't definitive. If you get an OKAY, you can't be sure and if you get a NOT okay, you're a canditate for angiography anyway.

Since they AREN'T definitive, that's why insurance companies are resisting them.

Perhaps they are on the cusp of perfection, but I think it's still a couple years away before cardiac imaging can replace the catheter angiogram for a good look-see.