What is a CT Coronary Angiogram
CT scans have been used to look at various anatomic regions, but have not been useful for the heart because the heart is continuously in motion. CT is very effective in looking at “static” areas, such as the brain, abdominal cavity, and extremities. Most early CT scanners take 1-8 pictures (slices) a minute, much slower than the rate of the heart. Just as taking a picture of a moving object with a camera results in a blurry picture, conventional CT scans of the heart are not helpful. A new generation of CT scanners which can take 64 pictures a minute is now available; with the use of a little medication to slow the heart rate to less than 64, CT images of the coronary arteries are now possible.
The Benefits of Our New Generation CT Scanner
Our new scanner will have the following advantages compared to older generation CT scanners:
- Improved image quality
- Reduced intravenous iodinated contrast dose for multi-body part exams
- Faster total exam acquisition times
CT Coronary Angiograms, CT Angiograms of the Thoracic Aorta and CT Cardiac Exams Now Availabe at TSJI
Utilizing a new GE Discovery PET/CT scanner we will now provide the full spectrum of ECG gated cardiovascular CT exams at Tower Saint John’s Imaging.
Our new CT scanner at Tower Saint John’s Imaging will be able to perform the following exams:
- CT Coronary Angiography
- CT Cardiac
- CT pulmonary vein and left atrial appendage mapping
- CT Angiography Chest, Abdomen, and Pelvis for various indications including TAVR planning
CT Coronary Angiograms Santa Monica – Tower Saint John’s Imaging
2202 Wilshire Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90403
Telephone: 310.264.9000
