Cardiac Multislice Computed Tomography (MSCT) Angiography

Spiral computed tomography first allowed the seamless acquisition of entire volumina without first separating them into individual slices. With the newest generation of MSCT devices having the 16-slice technology, short gantry rotation time of < 0.5 seconds, and a high performance processor, it is now possible to acquire large amounts of data in a short period of time with high spatial and temporal resolution. Consequently, MSCT is becoming an established non-invasive imaging method. At present, the focus is on morphological imaging of the heart's chambers and coronaries, however increasingly the success of MSCT will depend on its ability to capture functional parameters such as valve insufficiency, myocardial perfusion, and ejection fraction.