If your healthcare provider has requested that you have a CT angiogram, you may be concerned with your heart health, or even feeling anxious about getting an angiogram. But there’s no need to worry: a CT angiogram is a commonly ordered scan that is painless, noninvasive, and can be helpful in understanding more about the health of your arteries.
In this guide, we’ll show you everything you need to know about why your doctor recommended a CT angiogram, how it finds blocked arteries, what happens during a CT angiogram, and what to expect from your results. We will tell you everything you need to know about getting a CT angiogram.
Why your healthcare provider recommended a CT angiogram
A CT angiogram is a quick scan that shows narrowing or blockages of your arteries, which are the kind of blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart and to the rest of the body. The scan also shows the overall health of your blood vessels throughout your body, giving your healthcare provider a clearly defined 3-D view of your blood vessels and arteries. Your healthcare provider may want to check for arterial blockages or abnormalities that may be causing any symptoms.
What makes a CT angiogram the preferred test for detecting arterial blockages?
A CT angiogram is the preferred test for finding arterial blockages because it is painless, safe, and noninvasive. The 3D images obtained are highly detailed and specific in showing the health of your arteries. It shows not only blockages but also any narrowing or plaque buildup that might be present.
How does a CT angiogram provide clear and detailed images of my arteries?
CT angiograms use advanced CT imaging, along with a contrast dye, to highlight the condition of your arteries. The scan sends hundreds of images that are taken from multiple angles to a computer to create a complete picture of the health of your arteries. This is a fairly straightforward scan that helps identify any issues concerning the health of your arteries and blood vessels.
What are the advantages of a CT angiogram compared to a traditional angiogram?
While a traditional angiogram requires a catheter to be threaded through an artery, usually in your groin or wrist, a CT angiogram uses an IV through your hand or arm to send contrast dye to the arteries.
This is less invasive than a traditional angiogram, with fewer complications and a lower chance of infection, bleeding, or damage to an artery. The CT angiogram is also quicker, and for most people, requires less time for recovery.
View our available CT angiogram appointments at a location near you today
How a CT angiogram detects blocked arteries
A CT angiogram helps detect blocked arteries by showing finely detailed images of the arteries themselves. Your healthcare provider will be able to see areas of potential blockages or other abnormalities, such as plaque build-up or bulging in the arterial walls. The results of a CT angiogram can help assess your risk for heart attack, stroke, or peripheral artery disease.
How does a CT angiogram work to find blocked arteries?
Blocked arteries will appear on your CT angiogram as darker or thinner segments on the images. The darker areas mean that the contrast dye is not able to flow as freely through those areas, suggesting a blockage.
The cross-sectional x-ray images show these blockages from many angles, providing additional information about the location and severity of any blockages.
How does contrast dye make it easier to see blood vessels?
The contrast dye is an iodine-based dye that highlights the blood vessels. The dye fills arteries and veins through your IV line. Areas with dye absorb the x-rays in greater amounts, making the blood vessels appear brighter than surrounding areas.
Your angiogram results will also show the patterns of blood flow in your body, helping to identify blockages, narrowing, or other abnormalities.
What does a CT angiogram reveal about blood flow and potential blockages?
The high-resolution, 3D images from a CT angiogram show any blockages, narrowing of blood vessels, and weaknesses in the vessels themselves. The images show a detailed map of the location, condition, and severity of potential blockages, as well as the extent and type of plaque buildup in your arteries and veins.
What to expect before, during, and after a CT angiogram
Knowing how to prepare for your CT scan, what to expect during the scan, and how soon you can return to your normal routine after the scan can help ease any concerns you have. For most people, a CT angiogram is a quick, painless scan that does not require extensive preparation or demand excessive recovery time. The scan provides information that can help shape any future treatment options to help you maintain optimal health.
How should I get ready for my CT angiogram appointment?
Be sure to follow any instructions your healthcare provider gives you to help prepare for your scan. They may ask you to avoid eating or drinking anything but water for several hours before the scan. Stay hydrated to help remove the contrast agent from your body after the scan.
You should tell your healthcare provider if you have any allergies to iodine, limited kidney function, or if you have had a negative reaction to contrast agents in the past.
Avoid wearing metal, such as glasses, piercings, or jewelry, as metal can interfere with the scan. If you have metal implants or a pacemaker, be sure to let your provider and the technologist know so they can take steps to make sure your scan is successful and safe.
What happens during a CT angiogram? How long does it take?
During a CT angiogram you may be asked to change into a gown. You will lie down on a bed-like table, and the technologist will make sure you are comfortable. The contrast dye will be injected into the IV line.
If you are having a coronary CT angiogram, the technologist will attach sticky electrode patches to your chest. These patches communicate your heartbeat to the scanner so that the images can be precisely timed.
The table will slide into the donut-shaped scanner, which will rotate around you to take images. You may hear clicking or whirring sounds during the scan, and you will be asked to remain still, and to hold your breath for several seconds at different times throughout the scan to help make sure the images are not blurred.
You will be able to communicate with the technologist at any time throughout the scan. The entire process could take between 30 and 90 minutes.
Is it OK to go back to my normal routine after an angiogram?
Your healthcare provider will give you specific instructions to follow after your angiogram. You may be monitored for a few minutes to make sure you do not have an unusual reaction to the contrast dye.
Be sure to drink plenty of water to help your body flush the contrast dye from your system. You should be able to drive yourself home, unless you have had a sedative before the scan, in which case you will need someone to drive you home.
Understanding the results of your CT angiogram
After your CT angiogram you may have questions about the results of your scan. Feeling anxious about what the scan finds is normal. Your healthcare provider will help you understand your CT results. The results of the scan will help inform the bigger picture of your treatment plan and lifestyle changes to help keep you healthy in the future.
What do the results of a CT angiogram reveal? How long will it take to get my results?
The results of your CT angiogram can reveal whether you have blockages or narrowing in your blood arteries, and to what extent these may be present. They may show the structure of your heart, as well as any aneurysms or structural abnormalities.
After your scan a radiologist will read the results and write a report of the results to share with your healthcare provider, who will then reach out to you to discuss results. You should hear from your provider’s office about your results in about a week.
How will my healthcare provider use my results to interpret the severity of any blockages?
Your healthcare provider will read the report from the radiologist to help assess the severity of any blockages. Any narrowing of arteries will be on a scale that reflects the severity of the blockage, whether mild blockage or severe. The presence of plaque and blood flow patterns will also be noted in evaluating treatment plans and risk of any complications.
What questions should I ask my provider about my CT angiogram results?
After your CT angiogram you will probably have questions about the results and what they mean for your future treatment and care plan.
These questions might include:
- What were the findings of my CT angiogram?
- Were any blockages found, and if so, how serious are they?
- What is my current cardiovascular health, and what can I do to help improve it?
- What are the recommended next steps for my treatment?
When you speak with your healthcare provider, please be sure to ask any questions that are on your mind, so you can have a complete understanding of your health.
How to schedule an appointment with us
Our goal is to offer you and your healthcare provider the most informative results possible, and we make it easy for you to get an appointment.
With numerous locations across South Jersey, you’ll find us conveniently located near major highways and key bridges in the region.
We’ll ensure the entire scheduling process is as effortless as possible for you. Above all, we are here to help you.
Reach out to us at any of the following locations to book an appointment:
- Haddonfield Office – Haddonfield, NJ
- Marlton (Greentree) Office – Marlton, NJ
- Medford Office – Medford, NJ
- Mount Laurel Office – Mount Laurel, NJ
- Moorestown Office – Moorestown, NJ
- Route 73 (Voorhees) Office – Voorhees Township, NJ
- Sewell (Washington Township) – Sewell, NJ
- Turnersville Office – Turnersville, NJ
- Voorhees Office – Voorhees Township, NJ
- West Deptford Office – West Deptford, NJ
Learn more about the board-certified, subspecialized radiologists who read, analyze and interpret the findings here at South Jersey Radiology Associates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Your provider likely ordered a CT angiogram to assess your arteries for blockages or narrowing that could affect blood flow.
A CT angiogram provides a non-invasive, highly detailed view of your arteries, allowing doctors to detect blockages quickly and accurately.
The scan uses advanced X-ray technology and contrast dye to produce high-resolution, 3D images of your blood vessels.
Unlike a traditional angiogram, a CT angiogram is non-invasive, does not require inserting a catheter into your arteries, and has a lower risk of complications.
The contrast dye highlights your blood vessels, allowing the CT scanner to capture detailed images that reveal any narrowing or obstruction.
Your provider may ask you to avoid eating for a few hours before the test, to stay well-hydrated, and to inform them of any allergies you have, or any medications you take.
You will lie on a table that moves through a CT scanner while contrast dye is injected into your bloodstream, with the entire process typically lasting between 30 – 90 minutes.
Your provider will analyze the images to determine if there are blockages or narrowing in your arteries, and discuss the next steps for your treatment or management plan.