Case Presentations of Potential Applications of Computed Tomographic Angiography in the Geriatric Population

Abstract

Recent technical advances have enabled the use of computed tomography (CT) to visualize the beating heart, including the coronary arteries. This ability to perform noninvasive coronary angiography and to precisely evaluate other cardiovascular structures using CT may be especially valuable in the geriatric population. CT angiography can be used not only to investigate chest pain syndromes in the elderly but also for preoperative evaluation before cardiac and noncardiac surgery to detect intracardiac thrombi and tumors and to evaluate valves, the myocardium, and other cardiovascular structures, including the aorta. The authors present examples of the application of CT angiography in various older adult patients with cardiovascular disease to highlight potential applications.