Angiography is generally called any examination by which the doctor obtains an image of the vessels.
Computed tomography angiography is performed on a multi-slice computed tomography scanner after intravenous injection of contrast agent. The contrast agent is later excreted by the kidneys in the urine. It is a painless examination that lasts a few minutes. The examination checks the vessels of the brain, neck, upper and lower limbs and all areas of the body (thoracic aorta, abdominal aorta, renal arteries, iliac arteries, etc.). Computed tomography angiography is a modern application in the investigation of the vessels of the body and the head. With this examination, we can visualize the vessels in any area of the human body in a bloodless, painless, non-invasive way, avoiding the relatively painful and not free of complications of classical angiography. In this way we can diagnose stenosis, occlusions, aneurysms or other vascular diseases with great diagnostic accuracy.
CT angiography is recommended in the following cases:
- Diseases of the brain vessels (aneurysms, malformations, stenosis, occlusions) and carotid arteries
- Diseases of the aorta (aneurysms, stenosis, dissecting aneurysms, control after stent placement)
- Control of the vessels of the upper extremities (embolism, trauma) and lower extremities (stenosis or occlusion of arteries, emboli in veins)
- Control of the coronary vessels of the heart (stenosis, assessment of calcium score)
- Control of the pulmonary arteries (pulmonary embolism)
- Control of the vessels of the liver (trauma, obstruction of hepatic veins)
- Control of the renal vessels
Preparation and performance of the examination
The examination is quick, easy and painless. Before the examination, the examinee will be asked to fast for a few hours.
The examinee lies on the examination table of the CT scanner. Then, a small catheter is placed in a vein in the arm, which is connected to the contrast agent injector. Due to the contrast agent, you may feel a warmth from top to bottom, but this will subside immediately. During the examination, the technologist may ask you to hold your breath for a few seconds. In addition, he may ask you to remain completely still so that the images are clear. The entire examination procedure usually takes less than 30 minutes and the examinee can immediately return to their daily activities.