A Coronary CTA is used to visualize blood flow throughout the body to determine if either fatty deposits or calcium deposits have built up in the coronary arteries, which supply blood to the heart muscle. Compared to traditional catheter angiography, which involves injecting contrast material directly into an artery, CTA is much less invasive and can be more cost effective.
Who should consider having a coronary CTA
Coronary CTA may be appropriate for symptomatic patients considering stress test or elective cardiac catheterization, or asymptomatic patients with risk factors for coronary artery disease.
Some of the risk factors for CAD
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Family History of Heart Disease
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High Blood Pressure
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High Cholesterol
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Diabetes
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Smoking
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Overweight
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Sedentary Lifestyle (little or no exercise)
What to during this procedure
As part of the exam, you're positioned on a CT scan table and contrast is injected into a vein. This dye allows the inside of the coronary arteries to be visualized. Then, a high-speed scanner captures hundreds of cross-sectional images. Afterwards, a computer reconstructs a series of 3D images that our radiologists can view from any angle. Not only is this technique invaluable for delineation of the body's vasculature, but it is also relatively safe, convenient and non-invasive.