Benefits of 64-Slice CT for Paris Area

Dr. Khalid Shafiq at Paris Cardiology Center in collaboration with Virtual Radiolologic (VRAD) is proud to offer complete 64-Slice CT services to all those patients who are willing to take a step forward in the quality care of their lives by benefitting from such a cutting edge technology right in their own neighborhood. Test Results are available to the patient or their primary Physician within 24-hours.

So you might be wondering what is a 64-Slice CT study and how can it help me?

Computed Tomography (CT) scans uses 3 dimensional images from different angles around the body to make a diagnosis of disorders in many parts of the body. Well, just a few years back, the gold standard was a 16-Slice CT which required the patient to hold breath for 25 to 40 seconds to perform a scan. Today the 64-Slice CT can perform the same task in just a few seconds and the images are much better. A 64-Slice CT scanner can gather high-resolution image of a heart, brain or both lungs in less than 5 seconds. A scan of the whole body in about 30 seconds! In today's world, a 64-Slice CT scanner can save your life by preempting many ailments that you may have a family history of or you may develop with time due to your lifestyle or some other cause and you would like to know what if you develop this disease in the future because you have a family history of certain diseases or your body symptoms indicate it. If you are thinking you can preempt a certain disease from taking over your body would you not be interested in making use of such a technology that can look into the future for you and can help you make the right choice towards a healthier you?

Next you might be thinking. I am healthy. I eat right, I exercise but do I still need a CT done? The answer is Yes,

You may need one if:

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  If you have congenital heart disease
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  If you have an abnormal stress test and have a low risk of heart disease.
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  If you have atypical chest pain with abnormal stress test.
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  If you have disease in the carotid arteries.
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  If you have a history of stroke.
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  If you have a suspicion of blood clot in the lung (pulmonary emboli).
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  If you have cancer.
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  If you have suspicion of aneurysm and Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD).
  

In conclusion, a 64-Slice CT scan is not recommended as a screening test. However, there are numerous benefits of a 64-Slice CT scan. This pain free procedure offers exceptional image quality, which can mean better physician diagnosis, faster recovery time and increased patient comfort and convenience.

With a 64-Slice CT Scan patients have now the choice of doing a heart CT instead of a heart catherization to detect the presence of coronary artery disease (CAD). Heart catherization is an invasive procedure that requires dye, large needle in the groin, bed rest for 6 to 8 hours and an overnight stay in the hospital. While the 64-Slice CT scanner can do the same test in a few seconds with the use of x-rays and the patient can leave the clinic within an hour.

In addition to this, Calcium Score is a test offered at Paris Cardiology Center to detect calcification of arteries at a very early stage in patients. Calcified plaque happens when there is a build up of plaque and other substances under the inner layer of the arteries. This material can calcify with time causing Coronary Artery Disease (CAD). People with this disease have an increased risk of a heart attack. The 64-Slice CT scanner does the Calcium Score study in less than 5 minutes. Thus predicting the presence of coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients, much earlier than other symptoms like high blood pressure or high Cholesterol levels will do.

Identifying the presence of coronary calcium (or early stage CAD) is valuable as it accurately depicts CAD development and allows Khalid Shafiq M.D. to tailor treatment approaches to slow or stop the progression of this deadly disease.

A calcium score test can save your life as it can predict your chance of having a heart attack in the next 2 to 5 years.

Similarly pulmonary embolism in the lungs, stoke in the brain, certain types of cancers, aneurysm and Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) can be detected early with a 64-Slice CT.

Ayesha Shafiq, Director of Paris Cardiology Center. Wife of Khalid Shafiq M.D. and mother of their 2 children. Director of Paris Cardiology Center for 11 years. Masters in International Relations. Runs management with the help of 22 employees.