Cardiac services
Cardiac imaging
Benson Radiology provides a comprehensive range of cardiac imaging services to aid in the early detection of cardiovascular disease.
We are the market leader in CT Coronary Angiography, and the expertise of our specialist radiologists and co-reporting-cardiologists, together with the latest imaging equipment allows us to provide a trusted service to both GPs and specialists.
Our cardiac imaging services include:
CT Coronary Angiography (CTCA)
CT Coronary Angiography
CT Coronary Angiography (CTCA) is a quick, easy and non-invasive scan, using Advanced CT scanners and intravenous contrast agent to help visualise the coronary arteries and assess for plaque and vessel narrowing. This is the best non-invasive way to investigate for any issues or diseases with the blood vessels that may lead to a heart attack.
Benson Radiology has the state’s largest cohort of ANZCTCA credentialed radiologists together with co-reporting cardiologists and specialist cardiac CT radiographers.
Major indication
- To rule out significant coronary artery disease in low-intermediate risk patients with symptoms.
Other indications
- equivocal EST
- coronary anomalies
- new onset cardiomyopathy or heart failure
- prior to redo CAVG
- evaluation of LBBB
- exclude disease prior to non-cardiac surgery
Sites
We provide CT Coronary Angiography (CTCA) services at Ashford Hospital, North Eastern Community Hospital (NECH), Salisbury, Morphett Vale and Mount Gambier.
CT Calcium Score
A CT Calcium Score is a scan that detects and quantifies the amount of calcium in the walls of the arteries.
The presence of coronary calcium indicates underlying coronary artery disease, with the final calcium score providing information on the overall coronary artery plaque burden. While the relationship between the calcium score and the percentage of narrowing of the artery is non-linear - it does correlate directly to the amount of coronary plaque and to the risk of future coronary disease.
These scans are typically indicated for those at increased risk of cardiovascular disease - most commonly in asymptomatic patients between the ages of 40-70 with risk factors such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure or a family history of cardiovascular disease/heart attacks.
Cardiac MRI
Cardiac MRI is a highly specialised form of MRI which is the current best test (gold standard) to assess cardiac anatomy (including congenital defects), cardiac function, and for the presence of heart valve disease (valvular heart disease), heart muscle disease (cardiomyopathy), heart muscle / cardiac inflammation (myocarditis) or previous infarction (previous heart attack).
Cardiac MRI is also the best test for assessing for post-COVID 19 / vaccine-related heart inflammation (myopericarditis).
Cardiac MRI is a safe and painless investigation with no ionising radiation.
Benson Radiology performs these scans at the Ashford, North Terrace (City West) and North Adelaide clinics.
Myocardial Perfusion
Myocardial Perfusion scan is a safe, non-invasive nuclear medicine study used to show how well blood is flowing to the heart muscle and through coronary arteries. This helps determine any blockages to blood supply that may cause coronary artery disease.
This scan is performed under both ‘rest’ and ‘stress’ conditions. Stress visualisation is either post exercise or via pharmacological stress.
This scan can sometimes be indicated to help understand chest pain, to diagnose coronary artery disease or to assess heart damage from previous heart attack.