Coronary Angiography

Abstract

CT coronary angiography currently represents one of the most important non-invasive diagnostic possibilities offered by computed tomography.

In our clinic, over the course of 1 year, over 500 patients were investigated with the purpose of detecting coronary affections, as well as patients with stents and aorto-coronary bypasses with the purpose of determining their patency.

In our CT coronary angiography examining protocol, we use native scanning in order to detect and quantify coronary calcifications (Agatston calcium score), followed, if the calcifications are not severe, by the proper angiographic phase. Optimisation of the presence of the contrast substance at the coronary level is done through bolus tests, with the quantity of contrast substance administered depending on the scanned surface. In order to reduce the dose administered to the patient, we use CARE Dose 4D and modulated ECG acquisition with pulsed ECG.

The images are acquired in the format 64 × 0.6 mm, with the reconstruction of axial images at 0.75 mm. Post-processing consists of 3D VRT, 3D MPR and 3D MIP reconstructions. The software of the post-processing unit allows the quantification of the degree of stenosis, expressing the result either as an area or percentage.