Imaging Procedure Identifies Athletes At Risk For Sudden Cardiac Death

Main Category: Sports Medicine / Fitness
Also Included In: MRI / PET / Ultrasound;  Cardiovascular / Cardiology;  Heart Disease
Article Date: 26 Mar 2009 - 0:00 PST

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Multislice CT angiography may offer cardiologists a long-sought method for identifying athletes at risk of sudden cardiac death for congenital cardiac anomalies and other hidden heart conditions.

Dr. Gianocarlo Savino and colleagues at the Catholic University Gemelli Hospital in Rome used 64-slice cardiac CT to diagnose suspected congenital cardiac abnormalities in 24 of 60 athletes with physical symptoms of heart disease. The exams may have a profound effect on future participation in athletics for many study participants.

Dr. Savino wrote that a link between physical exercise and sudden cardiac death is well known. A retrospective review of 6.3 million military record revealed the importance of anomalous coronary arteries in these incedences.

Dr. Savino said "When these anomalies are suspected, the preferred diagnostic study should be the systematic exclusion of these anomalies. We know that multidetector CT emerged as the tool for such evaluations."

Citation
"Cardiac CT spots athletes at risk for sudden death."
James Brice
Diagnostic Imaging

Diagnostic Imaging is part of CMP Medica, which is part of United Business Media

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