CORONARY HEART DISEASE

Coronary Heart Disease

Coronary Heart Disease

Background of the Study

Computed tomography angiography (CTA) is a computed tomography technique used to visualize arterial and venous vessels throughout the body. This ranges from arteries serving the brain to those bringing blood to the lungs, kidneys, arms and legs (Fessenden & Fessenden, 1979, 332).

CT combines the use of x-rays with computerized analysis of the images. Beams of x-rays are passed from a rotating device through the area of interest in the patient's body from several different angles to obtain projection images, which then are assembled by computer into a three-dimensional picture of the area being studied (Felts & Spurrell,1966, 103-133).

The scan is performed simultaneously with a high speed contrast media injection using a technique called Bolus Tracking. Compared to catheter angiography, which involves placing a sizable catheter and injecting contrast material into a large artery or vein, CTA is a much less invasive and more patient-friendly procedure. The contrast material is injected into a small peripheral vein by using a small needle or cannula. This type of exam has been used to screen large numbers of individuals for arterial disease.

Angiography is a minimally invasive medical test that helps physicians diagnose and treat medical conditions. Angiography uses one of three imaging technologies and, in some cases, a contrast material to produce pictures of major blood vessels throughout the body.

Angiography is performed using:

x-rays with catheters

computed tomography (CT)

magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

CT imaging uses special x-ray equipment to produce multiple images and a computer to join them together in multidimensional views. In CT angiography (CTA), computed tomography using a contrast material is injected into a peripheral vein to produce detailed images of both blood vessels and tissues.

CT angiography is used to examine blood vessels in key areas of the body, including the:

brain

kidneys

pelvis

legs

lungs

heart

neck

abdomen

Physicians use the procedure to:

identify disease and aneurysms in the aorta, both in the chest and abdomen, or in other major blood vessels.

detect atherosclerosis disease in the carotid artery of the neck, which may limit blood flow to the brain and cause a stroke.

identify a small aneurysm or arteriovenous malformation inside the brain.

detect atherosclerotic disease that has narrowed the arteries to the legs and help prepare for endovascular intervention or surgery.

detect disease in the arteries to the kidneys or visualize blood flow to help prepare for a kidney transplant.

guide interventional radiologists and surgeons making repairs to diseased blood vessels, such as implanting stents or evaluating a stent after implantation.

detect injury to one of more arteries in the neck, chest, abdomen, pelvis or extremities in trauma patients.

evaluate arteries feeding a tumor prior to surgery or other procedures such as chemoembolization or selective internal radiation therapy.

identify dissection or splitting in the aorta in the chest or abdomen or its major branches.

show the extent and severity of atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries and plan for a surgical operation, such as a coronary bypass and stenting.

sample blood from specific veins in the body to detect any endocrine disease.

examine pulmonary arteries in the lungs to detect pulmonary embolism (blood clots from leg ...