Coronary Artery Calcium Score as Displayed by EBT

[mesquite]

Does anyone have any information on where in Thailand one could get a coronary artery calcium score as displayed by high-speed electron beam tomography (EBT)?



Apparently this is different than a CT scan as EBT does not use high radiation and only gives the calcium score as opposed to a picture of the heart and associated arteries.



From what I can tell, places like Bumrungrad have the higher tech CT scan, but not the score as displayed by EBT.



Any information would be appreciated.

[jrtmedic]

Relatively new technology there are very few of these machines in the World never mind Thailand !

Look here

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/heart-scan/MY00327

The Mayo clinic offer advise -----its free !

[mesquite]

Relatively new technology there are very few of these machines in the World never mind Thailand !

Look here

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/heart-scan/MY00327

The Mayo clinic offer advise -----its free !

I don't think that's the same thing, No mention of Electron Beam Tomography.

At Chiang Mai Ram they do have a Computerized Tomography machine that is mentioned in the link,

Edited July 4, 2013 by mesquite

[jrtmedic]

I hope you find what your looking for ! ---

Please read my post again !

[jrtmedic]

To further assist you here is some more info

http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/107/20/2528.full

[Sheryl]

Not in Thailand AFAIK.

[mesquite]

Thanks both of you.

[jrtmedic]

If your concerned about your cardiac health there are many facilities in Thailand where you can avail yourself of a comprehensive check up.

The technology you are interested in is not widely available and its "value" is as yet unproven.

If you interested members here will be able to direct you to an excellent service provider but you will need to indicate where in Thailand your based.

[mesquite]

Thanks, but I'm looking for that specific test. It's recommended by one of the top, if not the top, diabetes doctors in the US. Richard K Bernstein. It appears to be quite common there, but ironically too low tech Thailand.

[jrtmedic]

Here is an interesting article you may be interested in reading

.http://www.propublica.org/article/heart-check-america-drawing-complaints-and-scrutiny

[Sheryl]

EBT calcium scoring is not recommended at this time for aysymptomatic persons, and it is recommended for persons with known coronary artery disease only if the information gained will be used clinically to adjust treatment.

http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/102/1/126.full

If you have not already had one an exercise stress test would be a logical place to start. It has equal predictive accuracy for people suspected of having CHD.

[mesquite]

Looks like none of these tests are good for screening. Bill Clinton passed an EST and months later had bypass surgery. Davey Jones was given the "all clear" after an EST and was dead of a heart attack six months later. We do what we can do, I guess.

[jrtmedic]

mesquite

There are no "screening" tests which are 100% predictive. However, it is known (and well supported in the Literature) that "life style" issues are of major importance in maintaining cardiac and general health. This means eating well, maintaining a healthy weight, not smoking, exercising and avoiding excess alcohol intake.

Committing to an annual heath "check up" is wise and not overly expensive. Exactly what you should check is , is, to an extent, age dependent. If you are interested and are willing to divulge your age bracket someone here will advise.

Edited July 8, 2013 by jrtmedic

[Tolley]

Looks like none of these tests are good for screening. Bill Clinton passed an EST and months later had bypass surgery. Davey Jones was given the "all clear" after an EST and was dead of a heart attack six months later. We do what we can do, I guess.

Too true. I remember when my father had a massive heart attack he had low blood pressure and low cholesterol levels, never smoked and drank rarely. He was late 70s at the time and still going now in his late 80's.

Ironically his heart surgeon remarked at the time that they often had symptomless people with heart attacks and that same surgeon died of a heat attack a year later aged 52!

[mesquite]

mesquite

There are no "screening" tests which are 100% predictive. However, it is known (and well supported in the Literature) that "life style" issues are of major importance in maintaining cardiac and general health. This means eating well, maintaining a healthy weight, not smoking, exercising and avoiding excess alcohol intake.

Committing to an annual heath "check up" is wise and not overly expensive. Exactly what you should check is , is, to an extent, age dependent. If you are interested and are willing to divulge your age bracket someone here will advise.

Agreed and been doing that at Bumrungrad for years. Unfortunately diabetes care is behind the times both here and in the US.

[mabarreiros]

EBT calcium scoring is not recommended at this time for aysymptomatic persons, and it is recommended for persons with known coronary artery disease only if the information gained will be used clinically to adjust treatment.

http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/102/1/126.full

If you have not already had one an exercise stress test would be a logical place to start. It has equal predictive accuracy for people suspected of having CHD.

Dear Sheryl,

I totally disagree and instead of suggesting a document from the year 2000 I strongly recommend you to read and share the last guideline issued by the ACCF/AHA in 2010 that you can find in this link http://content.onlinejacc.org/article.aspx?articleid=1143997

As you most certainly agree exercise stress test can be negative even in the presence of atherosclerosis and this is why in this guideline Calcium gets a Class IIa and an Exercise ECG gets a Class IIb.

Warm regards,

Miguel

[Sheryl]

EBT calcium scoring is not recommended at this time for aysymptomatic persons, and it is recommended for persons with known coronary artery disease only if the information gained will be used clinically to adjust treatment.

http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/102/1/126.full

If you have not already had one an exercise stress test would be a logical place to start. It has equal predictive accuracy for people suspected of having CHD.

Dear Sheryl,

I totally disagree and instead of suggesting a document from the year 2000 I strongly recommend you to read and share the last guideline issued by the ACCF/AHA in 2010 that you can find in this link http://content.onlinejacc.org/article.aspx?articleid=1143997

As you most certainly agree exercise stress test can be negative even in the presence of atherosclerosis and this is why in this guideline Calcium gets a Class IIa and an Exercise ECG gets a Class IIb.

Warm regards,

Miguel

IIa only for some people i.e. those at intermediate risk or higher of CHD

IIb for people at low to intermediate risk

III (no benefit) for persons at low risk

[jrtmedic]

EBT calcium scoring is not recommended at this time for aysymptomatic persons, and it is recommended for persons with known coronary artery disease only if the information gained will be used clinically to adjust treatment.

http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/102/1/126.full

If you have not already had one an exercise stress test would be a logical place to start. It has equal predictive accuracy for people suspected of having CHD.

Dear Sheryl,

I totally disagree and instead of suggesting a document from the year 2000 I strongly recommend you to read and share the last guideline issued by the ACCF/AHA in 2010 that you can find in this link http://content.onlinejacc.org/article.aspx?articleid=1143997

As you most certainly agree exercise stress test can be negative even in the presence of atherosclerosis and this is why in this guideline Calcium gets a Class IIa and an Exercise ECG gets a Class IIb.

Warm regards,

Miguel

IIa only for some people i.e. those at intermediate risk or higher of CHD

IIb for people at low to intermediate risk

III (no benefit) for persons at low risk

mabarreiros clearly has a problem in absorbing and making sense of complicated scientific data. This maybe associated with the "salesman" like attempt to draw attention to commercial "health screening" centres outside Thailand. As a general rule such facilities offer little other than a means of emptying a wallet of money !

Edited July 11, 2013 by jrtmedic

[mabarreiros]

EBT calcium scoring is not recommended at this time for aysymptomatic persons, and it is recommended for persons with known coronary artery disease only if the information gained will be used clinically to adjust treatment.

http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/102/1/126.full

If you have not already had one an exercise stress test would be a logical place to start. It has equal predictive accuracy for people suspected of having CHD.

Dear Sheryl,

I totally disagree and instead of suggesting a document from the year 2000 I strongly recommend you to read and share the last guideline issued by the ACCF/AHA in 2010 that you can find in this link http://content.onlinejacc.org/article.aspx?articleid=1143997

As you most certainly agree exercise stress test can be negative even in the presence of atherosclerosis and this is why in this guideline Calcium gets a Class IIa and an Exercise ECG gets a Class IIb.

Warm regards,

Miguel

IIa only for some people i.e. those at intermediate risk or higher of CHD

IIb for people at low to intermediate risk

III (no benefit) for persons at low risk

mabarreiros clearly has a problem in absorbing and making sense of complicated scientific data. This maybe associated with the "salesman" like attempt to draw attention to commercial "health screening" centres outside Thailand. As a general rule such facilities offer little other than a means of emptying a wallet of money !

I don’t want to enter in a never ending discussion with you! I don’t think it’s polite from you to say that I have a problem in absorbing complicated scientific data when you don’t even know me… but that’s your problem and unfortunately I can’t help you!

Lots of renowned centers around the world like the Johns Hopkins Ciccarone Preventive Cardiology Center recommend the utilization of Calcium Scoring according to the guidelines and I never said that this is good for everyone.

BTW the IIa is only for asymptomatic adults at intermediate risk for CHD.

[Boo]

one spam post removed, please contact sales (at) thaivisa if you wish to becoe a sponsor

[jrtmedic]

With reference to an above post here is what the Johns Hopkins Ciccarone Preventive Cardiology Centre ACTUALLY say about "The Risks and Benefits of New Imaging Techniques" ( including ETB calcium scoring)

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/heart_vascular_institute/clinical_services/centers_excellence/womens_cardiovascular_health_center/patient_information/health_topics/risks_benefits_new_imaging_tech.html

In particular it should be noted that these techniques are not offered on a "stand alone" screening basis !

Edited July 12, 2013 by jrtmedic

[Sheryl]

OK I think we have beaten this issue to death.

Several links have been provided which discuss at length the advantages, disadvantages and limitations of various tests of cardiac function including calcium scoring. As anyone reading them will realize it is a very complex matter, there is no single "perfect" test, and the pros and cons of specific tests i vary with specific individual risk factors.

With any test -- especially an expensive one that involves exposure to radiation -- a key question ought to be will the results be used/how?

Have also established that as far as any of us know, EBT is not yet available in Thailand, only calcium scoring by CT which involves a higher dose of radiation. It is however available elsewhere in the region, including Kuala Lumpur and probably Singapore also.