Comparing Neck Ultrasound to CT Scan for Heart Disease Risk

This trial is testing whether a simple neck ultrasound can work just as well as a CT scan with radiation to help doctors determine if you have a serious heart artery blockage. Right now, doctors often use CT scans to check for heart disease in people with chest pain, but these scans expose you to radiation. The researchers want to know if a neck ultrasound—which is safe, faster, and cheaper—could give doctors the same useful information.

Many people come to the hospital with chest pain, and doctors need a quick, safe way to figure out who really needs further heart testing. CT scans work well but use radiation and are expensive. This trial exists to see if neck ultrasound could replace CT scans for certain patients, so fewer people are exposed to radiation while still getting accurate answers about their heart health.