What is an electron beam (Ultrafast) CT?
An electron-beam CT scan, or Ultrafast CT, allows a provider to determine the existence and extent of calcium deposits in artery walls, indicating the presence of atherosclerotic plaques. When plaques rupture, they can cause the blood to clot, which in turn may lead to a heart attack. Using X-ray beams that move in a circle around the body, the Ultrafast CT takes multiple images of the heart during a single heartbeat. This allows many different views of the heart, and provides excellent detail. The X-ray information is sent to a computer that interprets the X-ray data and displays it in two-dimensional form on a monitor.
