CT Scan Studies

​A coronary calcium score is a fast CT scan of your heart to evaluate if you have any calcium (hard plaque) in your coronaries. You will lie down on a table and you will move in and out of the machine. The machine will tell you when to hold your breath and when to breathe.

A coronary CTA is a CT scan with an injection of contrast used to evaluate the heart and coronary arteries during the arterial phase. If your provider has ordered a coronary CTA, here is what to expect: 

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You will lie down on a table and a staff member will start an IV to deliver saline and contrast dye to your veins. You may experience heat or a warm, wet feeling. The CT machine will move you in and out, collecting images. The test will take about 15 to 20 minutes. ​

If your provider has ordered a CT angiogram, please be aware there are many different types of tests performed here at CCA.

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A CTA of the aorta is a CT scan of the body used to evaluate arterial structures and blood flow. Images will be created and reconstructed on a computer.​

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Other types of Aorta CTAs we perform include the following. These tests will take about 15 to 20 minutes.

√ Thoracic

√ Abdomen

√ Abdomen/Pelvis

√ Runoff

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Because your heart rate needs to be low to obtain high-quality images during these tests, please do not drink any caffeine for 24 hours or eat food for four to five hours prior to your test. You may be given a medication called a beta blocker to lower your heart rate for the study. A physician will evaluate the images and provide a report with your results. 

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