Coronary CT Angiography

Excerpt

Chest pain is the most common symptom of coronary artery disease (CAD), posing a significant diagnostic challenge for clinicians. Despite remarkable strides in medical and procedural treatments, cardiovascular disease persists as a major global health concern. Addressing this burden demands timely and cost-effective diagnostic tools. Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is a crucial CAD assessment diagnostic modality. This non-invasive approach proves invaluable for patients with low to intermediate pre-test probabilities of ischemic heart disease, emphasizing its role in evaluating stable patients not requiring immediate revascularization.

While invasive coronary angiography remains the diagnostic gold standard, CCTA steadily gains ground as a non-invasive, low-risk alternative. It circumvents the hazards associated with invasive procedures and expedites assessments for patients at intermediate risk of CAD. Given the minute dimensions and dynamic nature of epicardial coronary arteries, CCTA relies on precise spatial and temporal resolutions. Spatial resolution determines the smallest distinguishable distance between two points, while temporal resolution dictates how rapidly images of moving structures can be captured. With the advent of 64-slice multi-detector CT (64-MDCT) systems and contemporary technologies, CCTA now boasts the necessary spatial and temporal resolution to visualize even the most distal coronary artery segments.