What Is This Scan?

CT Angiography (CTA) is a specialised CT examination that provides highly detailed images of the arteries and blood vessels throughout the body.

Intravenous contrast is injected through a vein while the CT scanner captures images at precisely timed intervals as the contrast travels through the blood vessels.

• CTA can assess blood vessels within the:
• Brain
• Head and neck
• Chest
• Aorta
• Abdomen and pelvis
• Kidneys
• Bowel
• Arms
• Legs

CT Venography (CTV) can also be performed when detailed assessment of the veins is required.

At IMPACT Radiology, the CT examination and contrast timing can be tailored to the particular blood vessels and vascular condition being investigated.

Conditions We Commonly Assess

• Brain – Circle of Willis CTA

CT angiography can provide detailed assessment of the arteries supplying the brain and the Circle of Willis.

• Commonly used to assess:
• Cerebral aneurysms
• Arterial narrowing or blockage
• Intracranial atherosclerotic disease
• Stroke and TIA
• Vascular malformations
• Other abnormalities of the intracranial arteries
• Carotid & Vertebral Arteries

CTA can assess the major arteries within the neck that supply blood to the brain.

• Commonly used to assess:
• Carotid artery stenosis
• Vertebral artery stenosis
• Atherosclerotic plaque
• Arterial occlusion
• Carotid or vertebral artery dissection
• Stroke and TIA
• Pre-operative vascular assessment
• Pulmonary Arteries – CTPA

CT Pulmonary Angiography (CTPA) provides detailed assessment of the pulmonary arteries supplying the lungs.

• It is most commonly performed to investigate:
• Pulmonary embolism (blood clots in the lungs)
• Pulmonary arterial abnormalities
• CT Aortogram

CTA provides detailed assessment of the aorta throughout the chest, abdomen and pelvis.

• Commonly used to assess:
• Aortic aneurysm
• Aortic dissection
• Aortic rupture
• Atherosclerotic disease
• Aortic narrowing
• Aortic branch vessel abnormalities
• Monitoring of known aortic aneurysms
• Pre-operative planning
• Assessment following vascular surgery or stent graft placement
• Renal Arteries

CTA can provide detailed images of the arteries supplying the kidneys.

• Commonly used to assess:
• Renal artery stenosis
• Renal artery aneurysm
• Fibromuscular dysplasia
• Renal vascular anatomy
• Selected causes of difficult-to-control hypertension
• Pre-operative vascular assessment
• Mesenteric Arteries

CTA can assess the arteries supplying the bowel and abdominal organs.

• Commonly used to assess:
• Mesenteric ischaemia
• Mesenteric arterial stenosis
• Arterial occlusion
• Mesenteric aneurysms
• Abdominal vascular abnormalities
• Selected cases of gastrointestinal bleeding
• Lower Limb Arteries – CT Angiogram / Runoff

CT angiography of the lower limbs provides detailed imaging of the arteries from the abdomen and pelvis through to the legs and feet.

• Commonly used to assess:
• Peripheral arterial disease
• Claudication
• Arterial stenosis
• Arterial occlusion
• Reduced blood supply to the legs or feet
• Aneurysms
• Vascular complications
• Pre-operative planning for vascular surgery
• Assessment following vascular intervention
• CT Venography

Specialised CT imaging can also be used to assess the venous system.

Depending on the clinical indication, CT venography may be used to investigate:

• Venous thrombosis
• Central venous obstruction
• Pelvic venous abnormalities
• Compression of major veins
• Abnormal venous anatomy

Why Might My Doctor Request This Scan?

• Stroke or TIA symptoms
• Suspected cerebral aneurysm
• Known aneurysm requiring monitoring
• Carotid or vertebral artery disease
• Suspected arterial dissection
• Suspected pulmonary embolism
• Unexplained chest or abdominal pain where a vascular cause is suspected
• Suspected aortic aneurysm or dissection
• Symptoms of mesenteric ischaemia
• Suspected renal artery stenosis
• Difficult-to-control hypertension where a renal vascular cause is suspected
• Leg pain when walking (claudication)
• Reduced circulation to the legs or feet
• Known peripheral arterial disease
• A vascular abnormality identified on ultrasound or another scan

CTA may also be requested before or after vascular surgery or an endovascular procedure.

Preparation

You may be asked to fast for several hours before your examination.

• CT angiography requires intravenous contrast.

Your kidney function may need to be assessed before contrast administration.

Please inform our staff if you have significant kidney disease.

Please tell us if you have previously experienced a reaction to CT contrast.

Continue taking your regular medications unless you have been specifically instructed otherwise.

You will be provided with specific preparation instructions for your examination.

What Happens During the Scan?

You will lie comfortably on the CT table, usually on your back.

A small intravenous cannula will be placed into a vein, usually in your arm.

Contrast is injected through the cannula while the CT scanner carefully times the image acquisition to capture the contrast as it travels through the blood vessels being examined.

During the contrast injection, you may briefly experience a warm sensation or metallic taste. This is common and usually passes quickly.

You may be asked to hold your breath for several seconds while images are acquired.

The CT images can then be reconstructed into detailed multiplanar and 3D images of the blood vessels.

Most examinations are completed within approximately 10–15 minutes.