CT Angiogram of the Heart - Overview & Technique

A Coronary CTA is a heart-imaging test currently undergoing rapid development and evaluation for non-invasively determining whether either fatty deposits or calcium deposits have built up in the coronary arteries, which supply blood to the heart muscle. If left untreated, these areas of build-up, called plaques, can cause heart muscle disease. Heart muscle disease, in turn, can lead to fatigue, shortness of breath, chest pain and/or heart attack. A Coronary CTA comes from a special type of X-ray examination. Patients undergoing a Coronary CTA scan receive an iodine-containing contrast dye as an IV solution to ensure the best images possible. The same IV in the arm may be used to give a medication to slow or stabilize the patient’s heart rate for better imaging results. During the examination, which usually takes about 10 minutes, X-rays pass through the body and are picked up by special detectors in the scanner. Typically, higher numbers (especially 16 or more) of these detectors result in clearer final images. For that reason, Coronary CTA often is referred to as “multi-detector” or “multi-slice” CT scanning. The information collected during the Coronary CTA examination is used to identify the coronary arteries and, if present, plaques in their walls with the creation of 3D images on a computer screen.

CTA of the Heart - Alternative Names and Explanations

Coronary CT angiogram, Coronary Computed Tomography Angiogram, CT Angiogram - Cardiac with Calcium Score 0149T, CT Angiogram - Cardiac w/o Calcium Score 0148T

Cardiac CTA - Benefits

• Non-invasive diagnosis
• Can rule out coronary stenoses with high accuracy
• Can establish patency of by-pass grafts and stented arteries
• Can visualize cardiac and coronary venous anatomy
• Can assess calcified and non-calcified plaque burden

CT Angiogram of the Heart - Positive Findings

• Diagnosis of Coronary artery disease.
• Explain reasons for chest discomfort or pain
• Evaluate the patency of the bypass grafts after bypass surgery.

CTA Cardiac - Images

CT Angiogram (Heart) - References, Links, and Additional Information

Schedule Your CTA of the Heart Today! 

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• If you live in Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Glendale, Mid-Wilshire and need to schedule a radiology examination such as a MRI, CT Scan, Ultrasound, X ray, or PET scan, contact us to schedule an appointment. 

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• cardiac CTA, CT Angiogram of the Heart, Coronary CT angiogram
• CT Angiogram of the Heart information including overview, technique, alternatives, benefits, and common findings. Schedule an MRI of the wrist in Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, or Glendale.
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