A coronary CTA is a heart-imaging test that can show if fatty deposits or calcium is built up in the coronary arteries and determine if an intervention, such as angioplasty or bypass surgery, is needed. Excess plaque or increased calcium can result in heart disease or a heart attack. The test is especially helpful in patients who are considered at intermediate to high-risk of heart disease, but are asymptomatic; those with chest pain, but are not considered at risk; and for those who have had an inconclusive stress test.

The procedure uses three-dimensional CT technology. After a patient is given an injectable contrast solution, a series of x-ray images are taken with a multi-slice CT scanner, which produces clear images of the heart and any plaque or calcium build-up in the arteries.

While cardiac catheterization is still considered the “gold standard” for heart testing in patients presenting with heart attack symptoms, CTA is being more widely used to rule out potential problems in patients presenting with non-life threatening symptoms. Often lifestyle changes or medications can help reverse heart disease, without putting the patient through riskier, invasive procedure.

A coronary CTA is a heart-imaging test that can show if fatty deposits or calcium is built up in the coronary arteries and determine if an intervention, such as angioplasty or bypass surgery, is needed. Excess plaque or increased calcium can result in heart disease or a heart attack. The test is especially helpful in patients who are considered at intermediate to high-risk of heart disease, but are asymptomatic; those with chest pain, but are not considered at risk; and for those who have had an inconclusive stress test.

The procedure uses three-dimensional CT technology. After a patient is given an injectable contrast solution, a series of x-ray images are taken with a multi-slice CT scanner, which produces clear images of the heart and any plaque or calcium build-up in the arteries.

While cardiac catheterization is still considered the “gold standard” for heart testing in patients presenting with heart attack symptoms, CTA is being more widely used to rule out potential problems in patients presenting with non-life threatening symptoms. Often lifestyle changes or medications can help reverse heart disease, without putting the patient through riskier, invasive procedure.