Why EBT? Beware of Spiral/Helical CT scanners
Colorado Heart & Body Imaging uses Electron Beam Tomography
(EBT), the only extensively proven technology able to perform accurate
coronary artery imaging and quantify coronary calcium. Recently, cheaper
and largely unproven "spiral or helical CT" scanners have
emerged in various cities claiming to be able to scan the heart. Spiral
scanners cannot acquire images fast enough to prevent blurring due to
the cardiac motion that occurs continuously. Studies have proven that
spiral/helical scanners frequently mischaracterize patients as scores
generated by these scanners are not necessarily accurate. In addition,
the radiation dosage from such scanners is always higher than EBT, sometimes
by several times.
The EBT scanner is FDA approved and was developed as
a cardiac imaging tool in the early 1980s with regular improvements
since. It is available worldwide at leading preventive heart centers
like the Mayo Clinic and UCLA and is considered the "gold standard"
in coronary imaging.
There are now hundreds of articles in the cardiology literature
concerning EBT. Centers that employ spiral CT scanners do not have any
proof about the value of their scanners in coronary calcification detection….therefore
they use the EBT literature and pretend it is also true for their inferior
technology. The recommendations for therapy have only been published
for EBT. The coronary calcium score measured by EBT has already been
proven to be a powerful predictor of future coronary events and has
been shown to be able to monitor the progression, stabilization or reversal
of atherosclerosis. No such proof of accuracy occurs from any of the
other scanners.
Our advice:
-
Never
obtain a coronary scan from a spiral or helical CT scanner. Be certain
the scanner is an Imatron EBT.
- It is especially important that your previous scan by EBT is not
followed by a scan from another technology. No physician will be able
to interpret the score differences between the two scans to interpret
rate of disease progression or improvement. Our center keeps records
of all previously scanned patients.
- If you are concerned about radiation dosage, use only EBT scanning
for all possible applications (body scan, heartscan, lungscan,
etc). If you are still concerned about lowering the radiation effects
of any x-ray procedure, call us and we will supply you with a safe
formulation of pills called "Bio-Shield" developed by
scientists in Denver. We believe it will additionally protect you
by 67%.
- Remember, that the majority of the true value of a "body
scan" is actually the heartscan. Therefore, do not undergo
a body scan from a spiral or helical CT scanner as their coronary
scan is not proven to be accurate or predictive.
- To really "Know the Difference", go to an excellent
display and discussion at www.heartscan.com/knowthedifference.htm
including information from CHBI's expert outside consultant Dr.
John Rumberger.
