CT stands for ‘computerised tomography’.
A CT coronary angiogram shows the blood flow through the coronary arteries. For this test, the dye is injected into a small vein in your arm. This makes the test less invasive than a traditional angiogram.
You will then lie on a bed which passes through a doughnut-shaped opening in a CT scanner to show detailed images of your heart. Some people feel a bit claustrophobic during this test, so let the hospital team know if you feel nervous. It’s not noisy and the machine is open-ended.
Who do we refer for a CT coronary angiogram at The Barnes Doctors
This varies dependent on risk factors. Women have some cardiac protection from oestrogen and men have a higher risk of heart disease but as a general rule we offer these to all adults over the age of 45. If you are going to take part in a very strenuous sporting activity or if you have a strong family history of heart disease we may offer this test sooner in your early 40’s. In addition, a very high cholesterol reading may be another reason your doctor would recommend it.
It forms part of The Barnes Doctors advanced screening and ultimately helps your doctor to see if you have evidence of coronary artery disease.
What are the risks of having a CT coronary angiogram?
An angiogram is a relatively safe, very common test. Serious complications are extremely rare.
Following an angiogram, some people may develop a collection of blood under the skin, which is called a haematoma. This can be uncomfortable and cause bruising, but it should go down after a few days. However, contact us at The Barnes Doctors if you have any concerns.
A small amount of radiation is used during an angiogram. However, as this test checks the blood flow through the arteries of the heart, it is essential to have it done. We are talking around 9 XRs.
What are the outcomes having had a CT coronary angiogram?
There are generally three outcomes:
- No evidence of coronary artery disease with no evidence of fatty or calcified plaque in the coronary arteries. We would like to repeat this test in 5 years time.
- There is evidence of non obstructive coronary artery disease. Depending on where this is, we may involve a good cardiologist for further tests and consider starting a statin medication to lower the risk of further deposition of fatty plaque. Careful control of risk factors such as high blood pressure are key.
- Obstructive coronary artery disease requires an urgent consultant cardiology opinion and may require stenting as well as the above including consideration of a blood thinner.
An interesting fact, out of all the CT coronary angiograms completed in 2025 in those with risk factors in a corporate setting, 60% showed abnormalities and confirms the importance of early detection.
If you have any queries or questions on the above pop in to come and have a chat with us at The Barnes Doctors. Full service healthcare coming to Barnes March 2026!
Dr Amun Kalia