A Coronary CTA (CCTA) is a non invasive heart-imaging test used to determine whether either fatty deposits or calcium deposits, called atherosclerosis, have built up in the coronary arteries which supply blood to the heart muscle. If left untreated, these areas of build-up, called atherosclrotic plaques, can cause blockages of the coronary arteries. These blockages restrict the blood flow to the heart muscle and can cause heart muscle disease which can lead to fatigue, shortness of breath, chest pain and/or heart attack. Plaques can also rupture causing a heart attack or Acute Coronary Syndrome.
Who should consider Coronary CTA?
The single most important step for patients trying to determine whether they should consider a Coronary CTA is consultation with their primary physician. This is because some Coronary CTA uses are more appropriate than others, and the scan carries some risk from X-ray exposure and contrast dye exposure.
Coronary CTA can detect asymptomatic lesions years in advance of symptoms. This may be of benefit to patients who have intermediate-to-high risk factors for coronary artery disease. The visualization and localization of plaque may aid in the motivation of asymptomatic patients with risk factors or other concerns for coronary artery disease.
CTA is well suited for the assessment of patients with atypical or chronic chest pain who have a low-to-intermediate risk of coronary artery disease. These patients may not warrant the complication and expense of coronary catheterization, but may benefit from the use of Coronary CTA to assess the coronary arteries non-invasively. Other patients for whom there is a diagnostic dilemma and who may not immediately warrant a conventional catheterization, such as patients with equivocal stress tests, can also benefit from the use of a non-invasive intermediate step such as Coronary CTA. This procedure may also benefit patients that have had a negative coronary angiogram but are considered at risk for the presence of soft plaque.
To date, Coronary CTA has not been proven as effective as the coronary angiogram in detecting disease in the smaller heart arteries that branch off the major coronary arteries. For that reason, Coronary CTA is not an adequate substitute for coronary angiography in patients with strong evidence of narrowing of the coronary arteries. Such patients include those with a history of chest pain during heavy physical activity, a history of positive stress-test results, or a known history of coronary artery disease or heart attack. Coronary CTA also is of limited use in patients with extensive areas of old calcified, or hardened, plaque, which is often the case in older patients. Patients who are extremely overweight or who have abnormal heart rhythms also tend not to be suitable candidates for this test because imaging quality is compromised.
Download pamphlet about Coronary CT Angiography Imaging
For more information about Coronary CT Angiography Imaging, call (916) 732-7777.
