CTA
(CT ANGIOGRAPHY 
CT ANGIOGRAM)

CT Angiogram is an exam that produces pictures of major blood vessels throughout the body. During this exam, an injection of IV contrast is injected through your veins to highlight images of both the blood vessels and tissues in various parts of the body.

CT uses X-rays and a powerful computer to make high resolution cross-sectional images of the body. CT angiography is used to diagnose and evaluate many diseases of blood vessels such as aneurysms, blockages, blood clots, vascular malformations, tumours and congenital abnormalities.

A CTCA scan also includes a calcium score, a non-contrast scan to measure the amount of calcified plaque (calcium) inside the walls of your coronary arteries. The score reflects the total area of calcium deposits and the density of the calcium.

Siemens SOMATOM Drive - Dual Source CT technology achieves precise dose and super fast scanning, appropriate to each patient’s needs regardless of age, size or weight. The unique Dual Source gantry and high-pitch table introduce precise CT imaging at unprecedented acquisition speed and temporal resolution. With the Stellar Infinity Detectors with integrated iterative reconstruction, SOMATOM Drive is driving a new level of integration of software and hardware.

Please bring your referral, Medicare and Pension Health Care Cards with any previous imaging relating to the region being scanned if they are for comparison.

It is important that you advise the radiology facility staff when you make the appointment if you have asthma, diabetes, any kidney problems, irregular heart rhythm, are or may be pregnant or have in the past had an allergy to CT contrast agents.

When you arrive, you will be asked to fill in a form asking you questions about your history and any allergies.

You will be given a gown to wear and the radiographer will explain to you what will happen during the scan including the explanation of the intravenous contrast injection which will make you feel warm when it is injected and may give you a metallic taste in the back of your mouth. After consenting, the radiographer will insert a cannula into a vein to administer the contrast once you are on the CT imaging table.

Prior to examination, you will be placed on the CT table and positioned by our radiographer. The table will move you into the correct position for the scan. You will be asked to follow some breathing instructions to ensure that there is no movement during the scan. The table will move in and out of the CT machine as the images are acquired.

Each examination is tailored to the specific question which is being asked, the exam may take anywhere between 10 – 15 minutes to complete. After the scan has been completed, the cannula will be removed and you can go home.

The results will be reported by our radiologist and CT images manipulated on an advanced Computer system to generate angiographic images. If there is anything urgent, your doctor will be contacted on the same day.

After your examination, the images from your study will be available on the Medscan Z-tech app. A report written by our radiologists, along with the images will be sent directly to your referring doctor. Medscan will store digital copies of all studies on our secure database for comparison with any future examinations. All images are available online with the Medscan Z-link app