Coronary CT angiography (CT of the coronary arteries)

Coronary CT angiography is a CT scan of the heart that shows the coronary arteries, which supply the heart muscle. It can look for plaques and narrowing of these arteries without inserting a catheter, unlike coronary angiography. It is requested by the cardiologist, for example for chest pain when the probability of coronary artery disease is considered low to intermediate, before certain surgeries, or to check bypass grafts, depending on their judgement. A normal result often rules out significant coronary artery disease. The examination requires an iodinated contrast injection and a slow, regular heartbeat: a medicine that slows the heart (beta-blocker) may be given beforehand, according to medical advice. At the cardiologist's request, a calcium score (a measurement, without injection, of the amount of calcium deposited in the arteries) can be calculated during the same examination.