The use of electron beam computed tomography in the primary care setting

EBT has become a clinical tool that has allows physicians to gain another piece of data to help predict which patients may be at risk for coronary artery disease. Valuable information that predicts a patient's risk at a relatively young age (fourth or fifth decade) may allow attenuation of such risk by aggressive risk factor modification over the ensuing decades. Coronary calcium can be quantified and subsequently followed to see if risk factor modification is effective. The task for the primary care physician is to properly use these new imaging tests to improve the care they provide for their patients.