Coronary CT Angiography

Coronary CT angiography (CTA) is an ideal test for the evaluation of symptomatic patients with low to intermediate probability of obstructive coronary artery disease and for those with equivocal stress test results. Coronary CTA can reveal potentially life-threatening coronary plaques with outstanding spatial resolution, temporal resolution, and diagnostic accuracy.

Coronary CTA is a non-invasive imaging modality that can be compared to cardiac catheterization for evaluation of coronary arteries without the use of wires or catheters.  This non-invasive test eliminates the risks associated with cardiac catheterization and uses less contrast volume than cardiac catheterization. Ambulatory patients tolerate the test well and the results are immediately available. We also find that coronary CTA is valuable for patients who require evaluation of coronary artery bypass graft and stent patency.

Cardiac CT is also a suitable alternative for patients who cannot use MRI and require evaluation of cardiac masses, congenital heart disease, non-ischemic cardiomyopathies, pericardial disease, or vascular abnormalities. It provides an excellent three-dimensional evaluation of the left atrial and cardiac vein anatomy in patients undergoing electrophysiological procedures. CT is also suitable for rapidly evaluating large anatomical regions such as the thoraco-abdominal aorta and its branch vessels in patients with aneurysms, vasculitis, and other vascular diseases. It is a state-of-the-art cardiovascular imaging modality for assessment of patient eligibility for percutaneous trancatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).