Self-Referral of Patients for Electron-Beam Computed Tomography to Screen for Coronary Artery Disease

Abstract

Electron-beam computed tomography (CT) is a new, increasingly widely promoted technique for the detection of calcification within coronary atherosclerotic lesions. Evidence supporting the use of this test in screening for coronary artery disease is gradually accumulating, but there is considerable controversy about the role of electron-beam CT in identifying patients at risk for cardiovascular events.^1,2 Despite the controversy among experts, centers performing electron-beam CT advertise for and generate business on the basis of patients' referring themselves for the test. Is electron-beam CT ready for widespread use through the mechanism of self-referral? This question can be answered only after proper . . .