MDR Cardiovascular Division

CT Angiography

A CT Angiogram is similar to a conventional CT scan except that it is performed on a special 64 Detector CT scanner which provides extremely fast, high-resolution images of the heart and peripheral vessels. The high speed of the scanner freezes heart motion to allow exquisite visualization of the coronary arteries, which previously could only be seen only with invasive cardiac catheterization. The scanner also allows anatomic coverage for long vessels such as the aorta and arteries of the legs.

The newest computer workstations permit isolated visualization of these arteries which can then be viewed in 2D and 3D modes. Unlike invasive catheter angiography, the morphology of plaques and thrombi, as well as stents, can be directly visualized. This technique requires only an injection of standard nonionic CT contrast into a peripheral arm vein making it a non-invasive diagnostic office procedure taking on average 15-20 minutes.