Coronary CT Angiography (CCTA)
3D pictures of your heart's arteries — noninvasively
At a glance
- Exam timeAbout 30 minutes
- ContrastIodinated IV
- TechnologyHigh-resolution 3D CT
- NoteDifferent from a calcium score
Coronary CT angiography (CCTA) is a noninvasive diagnostic exam that uses high-resolution 3-D CT images of your moving heart, coronary arteries and great vessels — including the aorta and pulmonary arteries.
What CCTA shows
CCTA determines whether soft (fatty) or calcified plaque is present in the coronary arteries, and can measure areas of narrowing (stenosis). For many patients, CCTA answers the coronary artery question definitively — without a cardiac catheterization.
Not the same as a calcium score
A cardiac CT calcium score is a screening test that detects calcified plaque only. CCTA goes further: it visualizes both calcified and soft plaque and measures the degree of any blockage. Your physician will choose the right test — or use both together.
During the exam
An IV is placed and a rapid injection of iodine-based contrast is given during the scan. Medication may also be used to gently slow or stabilize your heart rate so images are crisp. The exam takes about 30 minutes, and most patients return to normal activities immediately afterward.