Next week I'm having an EBCT (electron beam) scan of my heart which I'm looking forward to knowing the results of.

Has anyone here ever had this type of imaging (electron beam) and if so, what was their opinion with the results in revealing conditions that were not previously diagnosed or resulted in a negative, using ECG, blood serology tests?

i had the test in 2002 my results were terrible only 1 person scored worse then me i scored a 399 out of 400 pretty bad my heart is lined with calcium
my cardio doc wants me to redo the test but i just dont care to see that bad test again.

oceanview,

Positive Result:
Means you have calcium deposits in the artery wall...then you must be angiographed or have a stress perfusion test.

Negative Result:
No calcium in your artery walls but many plaques are fatty accretions that contain no calcium but are equally or probably MORE dangerous than calcium rich "stable" plaques.
To be sure, you need angiography or stress perfusion testing.

Net Result: No real information from the EBCT scan...just a calcium number.

Do you have any symptoms, or is the test just "routine screening?"

Thank you Lenin and stellatj for both your verdicts.

So, all in all EBCT is mainly a calcium/plague calculator with the need for further investigatory tests such as angiography and stress perfusion testing, it costs over here approx. £525, expensive but I will still give it a go as I have been having symptoms for over a year now with chest pain, breathlessness and swelling feet/ankle, abdomen which accumlates during the day. I already had an ECT, treadmill test carried out when I was in the cardiac assessment unit after having had continuous chest pains, which were not conclusive.

Not sure if either of you are UK based (most likely the US) as I wondered if on the EBCT positive/negative results showed sufficient calcium and/or a high level of plagues, that the NHS would investigate further by angiography and stress perfusion test. Should imagine so, even if the results are just numbers, the results could not ignored and there would still be a need for these further investigatory tests you mentioned.

Anyway, I shall bear your answers in mind which are v. helpful.

Thank you Lenin and stellatj for both your verdicts.

So, all in all EBCT is mainly a calcium/plague calculator with the need for further investigatory tests such as angiography and stress perfusion testing, it costs over here approx. £525, expensive but I will still give it a go as I have been having symptoms for over a year now with chest pain, breathlessness and swelling feet/ankle, abdomen which accumlates during the day. I already had an ECT, treadmill test carried out when I was in the cardiac assessment unit after having had continuous chest pains, which were not conclusive.

Not sure if either of you are UK based (most likely the US) as I wondered if on the EBCT positive/negative results showed sufficient calcium and/or a high level of plagues, that the NHS would investigate further by angiography and stress perfusion test. Should imagine so, even if the results are just numbers, the results could not ignored and there would still be a need for these further investigatory tests you mentioned.

Anyway, I shall bear your answers in mind which are v. helpful.

0ooops..... duplicate resulted because my posting refused to move 1st time!

Oceanview 916,

I would not bank on the NHS taking notice of any private EBCT tests you have carried out. I think they have the opinion, previously expressed, that this test is not an accurate assesment of the amount of artery blockage.

I would have thought with the symptoms you describe that an angiogram would have already been carried out.

Have you been prescribed any medication for your symptoms ?
.

oceanview,
If I read you right you are in a pickle because of your insurance system. So you have to go out of pocket the 525 pounds to convince the health service that something is worong enough to warrant more testing.
I gather that your inconculsive stress test was accompanied by an echogram?

As you probably know, chest pain, breathlessness, and edema point pretty strongly to heart problems. I don't know if they will be impressed by a high calcium score from the ECBT because most cardiologists don't give it a great deal of weight.

Is there an APPEAL system that will get you a nuclear stress perfusion test? It reallly is the minimuum you need. Any guess on the cost to you if you did it throught the private sector?

You need to rule out coronary artery blockages and the possibility of early heart failure (cardiomyopathy.)

How is your blood pressure; have you ever tried diuretics for the edema?

Hi Lenin, no it's not a matter of insurance, I just have to decide that I should have a further test, possibly a EBCT scan because I am uncertain that the ECG and treadmill tests are not sufficiently revealing enough in areas of my coronary arteries and/or heart muscle that has been the cause of my chest pains, edema and breathlessness.

I had no Echogram offered to me at the time of the ECG treadmill tests, that's how it is on the NHS here in the U.K., they will only go so far (to save money ofcourse) even though I have had all the symptoms for over a year now, so I really have to check it out and decide further.

What I was now thinking was that perhaps I should instead of having an EBCT scan, I should have in lieu a Echogram, which not only will be half the price, but it seems from the advice given from you, that an Echogram might be more pertinent in the correct diagnosis if my symptoms were to be heart failure < which I strongly suspect >.

I think I will opt now for the Echogram as it seems to be more appropriate.

Thanks for all the tech advice on the tests you gave me, it's all been very helpful in making this decision.

Also, I have had to suggest taking a duiretic, you would have thought my GP would have thought of it first. Would you have any idea which duiretics are the best for less side effects and potassium loss?

And by the way, what is a < nuclear stress perfusion test?> Is it a test that goes by another name?

For less side effects and less potassium loss I'g go with hydrochlorothiazide.
For instantaneous large water loss, I'd go with Lasix (furosemide)...I think they call it Frusemide in the UK. Go with 40 mg. twice a day. With Lasix you should take 20 Meq's (about 800 mg) KCl.

For noticeable edema, I think the latter is the better choice.

oceanview,

Two choices for diuretic:
HCTZ (hydrochlorothiazide)...lowers sodium and water slowly. Little potassium loss but high sodium loss.
Lasix (furosemide) probably called frusemide in the UK. Large postassium loss, little sodium loss. Should be taken with KCl 20 Meq (about 800 mg.) At a dose of 40 mg. twice a day, you will lose any water retention very quickly.

Nuclear stress perfusion test might be called a Sestamibi Scan, or a MIBI scan, or a nuclear stress test...all the same thing. An isotope is injected into your bloodstream and the distribution is mapped on a scanner. Areas of the heart without radiation are being starved of blood.

Ocean,

Two choices of diuretic:

Hydrochlorothiazide...easy on postasssium but significant sodium loss.

Lasix (furosemide) probaly Frusemide in the UK...fast water dump, potassium loss requires supplementation with KCl every day (like 20 Meq). Doseage of 40 mg twice a day will blow off edema fast.

Stress perfusion teat goes by the alternate names: sestamibi scan, MIBI scan, thallium-stress test, nuclear stress test. All involve injection of a radioactive isotope into the bloodstream. A scan shows areas of the hearts with no radiation which are areas that are not getting a sufficient blood flow.

Apologies for the three posts: The first two went "into the ether" and disappeared...or so I though. Then all three reappeared. I think I'll stick to my morning postings:D:D:D

ha, the morning! the system gets stuck too!

Appreciate all the advice and knowledge you gave.
Best to u