High-resolution scanning technique could identify heart-attack risk
DOI: 10.1063/PT.5.027496
Guardian : To find a way to prevent heart attacks, researchers are using noninvasive imaging to scan for atherosclerotic plaques. Such dangerous fatty plaques can build up in the bloodstream and eventually rupture and block blood flow in a coronary artery. To locate the plaques, the researchers used radioactive tracers, which they could then scan for by using a combination of positron emission tomography and computed tomography. Their results are detailed in a paper published online in the Lancet. If shown to consistently identify life-threatening plaque buildup, the technique could be used as a preventive measure to identify high-risk patients and prescribe appropriate treatment, such as drugs, surgery, or dietary changes.
