Assessing cardiac CT: advantages & current limitations. Part I: technical advancements & considerations.

The media's frenzy towards the imaging capabilities of 64-slice cardiac computed tomography (CCT) is not without cause. ECG-gating and improved resolution allow non-invasive visualization of the coronary arteries, coronary artery bypass grafts, and the presence of atherosclerosis. However, clinicians should understand CCT image acquisition process and the current CCT limitations. Those limitations include poor image quality with the morbidly obese, coronary artery motion on images of those with irregular and/or fast heart rates, potential intravenous contrast related complications, and high radiation exposure. As CT technology evolves, with faster acquisition and higher resolution, it is paramount for clinicians to understand the applications and limitations of this imaging method.