Is CT coronary angiography better than catheter based investigation for heart blocks?

Question

Hello doctor,

320 slice CT scan machines have been introduced in my country. It is claimed that a CT coronary angiography done on such a machine will pinpoint accurately the blocks in the heart. Rendering a catheter based investigation unnecessary. Can you confirm whether this is true?

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

It is not always true. Even today catheter angiography is the gold standard. CTA (computed tomography coronary angiogram) is a good screening tool to evaluate coronary blocks in high-risk asymptomatic patients or to assess preoperative cardiac fitness in some patients admitted for non-cardiac surgeries. If a patient has symptoms suggesting coronary artery disease, confirmed by ECG (electrocardiography) and echocardiogram, it is better to go for catheter angiogram. New generation CT scanners provide excellent quality images but CTA has not replaced catheter-based angiogram at present. But the future for CT angiogram is very bright.