Computerized Tommography (CAT/CT Scan)

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States. In 1998, there were an estimated 160,000 deaths from lung cancer. The cure rate is only 12% and the 5 year survival is only slightly higher. Currently routine chest x-rays are not recommended because they cannot identify tumors early enough to save or even prolong lives. Almost 85% of lung cancers are now discovered at a late stage.

Recent studies show that high speed C.T. scanners greatly improve the likelihood of detection of malignant disease, 4 times higher than that of chest x-rays. Of those detected, 87% were found at stage I. When stage I cancer is resected, 5 year survival can be as high as 70%. This C.T. screening requires less than 20 seconds of scanning time and requires no intravenous contrast material. The radiation dose is similar to that of a chest x-ray and can be done at our facility with a quick, painless procedure.

CT Scanning for Heart Disease

Healthcare Associates of Irving is pleased to announce new preventative methods available. We now have a high speed helical C.T. scanner capable of screening for coronary calcifications to predict the probability of heart disease as well as lung scanning to detect cancers as small as 5 mm.

Every 20 seconds someone has a heart attack and almost 1/3 of the them have no prior symptoms. Calcium scoring can identify as much as 93% of these "at risk" patients before the heart attack occurs. Anatomic studies have established that coronary vessel calcification is associated with atherosclerotic disease. The more extensive the calcification, the more frequent and more severe the degree of stenosis of the coronary vessels. With the new C.T. scanner we can detect the degree of calcification and thus the risk of a cardiovascular event.

The American Heart Association has determined that confirmation of coronary calcifications is clinically significant for the following patients:

1) Patients with symptoms of chest pain.

2) Asymptomatic patients with increased coronary risk factors (hypertension, elevated cholesterol, diabetes, family history of cardiac disease, smoking, obesity, sedentary lifestyle).

3) Monitoring of patients with known arteriosclerosis.

The procedure is performed in our facility in an open chamber, is quick, painless and requires no intravenous contrast material.

For More Information or to Schedule an Examination Please call 972-258-7412