What Is The PENRAD Heart Screen?
The PENRAD HeartScreen is a diagnostic tool used to detect early
signs of coronary artery disease.
A Sub Second Spiral CT Scan records a
series of detailed images of the blood vessels of your heart very
quickly and very accurately.
The test is fast, typically just 10 to 15
minutes and completely painless. A HeartScreen is non-invasive, which
means there are no injections, dyes or needles.
The HeartScreen is a very unique exam that
allows the detection of calcified plaque in coronary arteries and a
personal risk assessment for coronary artery disease.
Even if mild calcification has begun, the
condition may be treatable with lifestyle changes like diet and exercise.
Why Test Your Coronary Arteries?
Coronary Artery Disease is the number one cause of death in both men and
women in the United States.
This disease usually is caused by plaque
deposits that build up and decrease the flow of blood to the heart muscle.
There are two types of plaque buildup in the coronary arteries; soft plaque
and calcified plaque.
The HeartScreen identifies the presence of calcified
plaque but cannot identify soft plaque.
The presence of soft plaque can only
be identified by a very specialized interventional procedure usually
performed immediately following a heart attack.
The HeartScreen
is an effective screening tool for the early identification of calcified
plaque.
More than 500,000 Americans will die of heart
attacks this year, over half of those who die will have no prior symptoms.
Coronary Artery Disease is responsible for 1.5 million heart attacks
annually.
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The PENRAD HeartScreen is a security check for the heart.
- Eric R. Weidman, MD Director of CT/HeartScreen
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Exam Preparation
A HeartScreen requires no special preparations.
The test is completely
painless and non-invasive.
You will be asked to wear a comfortable two-piece
outfit without buttons, zippers or other metallic parts (like a sweat-suit)
or you may change into a gown provided at our facility.
The exam takes
approximately 10 to 15 minutes.
Please let our appointment scheduler,
technologist or radiologist know if you are or suspect you may be pregnant.
During the Exam
Several EKG electrodes will be placed on your chest and you will be asked to
lie on the exam table.
The movable table will be raised, lowered and moved
in and out of the scanner. You will hear a variety of whirring, clicking and
other machine-like noises during the test.
An intercom will allow you to
talk to the technologist during the procedure.
After the Exam
A detailed result will be generated by the HeartScreen equipment. These
results will be interpreted by a Board Certified Radiologist who will then
dictate a formal report.
The computer generated report and the official
dictated report will be sent to you and your healthcare provider.
Your
healthcare provider will discuss the results with you and may recommend a
treatment plan.
Make sure you have a clear understanding of your test result
and the potential impact on your health.
Further Information
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