CT PERIPHERAL ANGIO

A CT Peripheral Angiography (CTA) is a specialized, minimally invasive diagnostic imaging test that provides your doctor with a detailed and accurate view of your circulatory system. Its primary purpose is to create a clear "road map" of the blood vessels (arteries) in your arms, hands, legs, and feet. At Cadabams Diagnostics, we perform this advanced scan by combining the power of a sophisticated CT (Computed Tomography) scanner with an iodine-based contrast material. This contrast highlights your arteries, allowing our specialists to see them in sharp, three-dimensional detail and identify any potential issues that could be affecting your health.

What is a CT Peripheral Angiography?

To understand a CT Peripheral Angiography, it helps to break it down. A CT scanner is a highly advanced X-ray machine that rotates around your body, taking hundreds of images from different angles. A powerful computer then processes these images and assembles them into detailed, cross-sectional views—like looking at individual slices of a loaf of bread—of your arteries.

The "angiography" part of the name refers to imaging blood vessels. To make these vessels stand out from surrounding tissues, a crucial step involves a ct peripheral angiogram with contrast. A safe, iodine-based liquid (contrast dye) is injected into a vein, typically in your arm. This dye travels through your bloodstream and into your arteries, making them appear bright white on the scan. This allows our radiologists to see the structure and health of your arteries with exceptional clarity.

Many patients ask, what is a CT angiogram of the legs? This is the most common and vital application of the test, often referred to as a CTA of lower extremities. It is specifically designed to examine the arteries that supply blood from your abdomen down to your legs and feet, which are frequently affected by vascular conditions.

Types of CT Peripheral Angiography

While the technology remains the same, a CT Peripheral Angiography can be focused on different areas of the body depending on your symptoms and your doctor's orders.

CTA of Lower Extremities

This is, by far, the most frequently performed type of this scan. It provides a comprehensive evaluation of the arteries starting from the lower abdomen (aorta and iliac arteries) down through the thighs (femoral arteries), knees (popliteal arteries), and into the calves and feet (tibial and peroneal arteries). It is the definitive scan for diagnosing PAD in the legs.

CTA of Upper Extremities

Less common, this scan is used to investigate issues in the arms and hands. It examines the arteries that branch off the aorta to supply blood to the shoulders, arms, and fingers. This may be ordered for symptoms like arm pain with activity, blockages, or to evaluate for conditions like thoracic outlet syndrome.

When a radiologist at Cadabams Diagnostics analyzes your scan, they are not just looking for a single problem. They are conducting a comprehensive assessment of your arterial health, focusing on several key parameters:

• Vessel Patency: The most fundamental question: are the arteries open and allowing blood to flow freely?
• Stenosis: This refers to the narrowing of an artery. The radiologist will identify the precise location of any stenosis and measure its severity, often as a percentage (e.g., "70% stenosis").
• Occlusion: This indicates a complete, 100% blockage of an artery.
• Aneurysms: The scan can detect abnormal bulging or swelling of an artery wall, known as an aneurysm, which can pose a risk of rupture.
• Anatomy: The test provides a detailed map of your unique arterial anatomy, which is essential for surgeons or interventional radiologists when planning procedures like stenting or bypass surgery.
• Collateral Vessels: When a major artery is blocked, the body often creates smaller, natural bypass channels called collateral vessels. Identifying these helps the doctor understand how your body is compensating for the blockage.

Your doctor orders this specific test for several important reasons:

1. To Diagnose PAD: It is the gold standard for accurately diagnosing and determining the extent and severity of Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD). [Link to: Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) Symptoms and Treatment]
2. To Plan Treatment: The detailed 3D map created by the scan is invaluable for planning the most effective treatment, whether it's minimally invasive (angioplasty and stenting) or open surgery (bypass graft).
3. To Evaluate Previous Procedures: If you've had a stent placed or bypass surgery in the past, a CTA can check if it is still functioning correctly.
4. To Investigate Trauma: In cases of injury to a limb, the scan can quickly identify vascular damage.
5. To Assess for Other Abnormalities: The test is also excellent for detecting other issues like aneurysms, dissections (tears in the artery wall), or vasculitis (inflammation of blood vessels).

When and Who Needs to Take a CT Peripheral Angiography?

A referral for a CT Peripheral Angiography is most often given when a patient experiences symptoms that suggest a problem with blood flow to their limbs. The leading condition this test investigates is Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD), a common circulatory problem where narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to your extremities.

Your doctor may recommend this test if you are experiencing:

• Claudication: Pain, cramping, or aching in the legs, thighs, or hips that occurs during exercise and subsides with rest.
• Rest Pain: Pain in the feet or toes that occurs even while resting.
• Numbness or Weakness: Unexplained numbness, weakness, or a feeling of coldness in the lower leg or foot compared to the other side.
• Non-Healing Sores: Ulcers or sores on your toes, feet, or legs that are very slow to heal or do not heal at all.
• Skin Color Changes: A noticeable change in the color of your legs, such as paleness or a bluish tint.
• Poor Nail or Hair Growth: Slowed nail growth or hair loss on your feet and legs.

This test is a critical diagnostic tool, effectively serving as a CT scan for peripheral artery disease (PAD). Individuals at higher risk for PAD, and who may need this scan, include:

• Smokers or former smokers
• Individuals with diabetes
• People with high blood pressure (hypertension) or high cholesterol
• Those with a family history of vascular disease
• Older adults (over 60)

Benefits of Taking the Test

Choosing to have a CT Peripheral Angiography at Cadabams Diagnostics offers significant benefits for your health:

• High Detail: Provides an exceptionally clear, detailed, and three-dimensional "road map" of your arteries that is far superior to a standard ultrasound.
• Minimally Invasive: It is much faster and less invasive than traditional catheter angiography, which requires inserting a catheter directly into an artery.
• Precise Diagnosis: Enables your doctor to make a highly accurate diagnosis, leading to more effective and targeted treatment plans.
• Preventive Care: By identifying problems early, the scan can lead to timely intervention, which can prevent severe complications of PAD, including chronic pain, non-healing wounds, and even limb loss.

Illnesses Diagnosed with CT Peripheral Angiography

This powerful diagnostic tool is key to identifying a range of vascular conditions, including:

• Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)
• Atherosclerosis (the buildup of plaque that causes PAD)
• Critical Limb Ischemia (a severe form of PAD)
• Arterial Stenosis (narrowing) and Occlusion (blockage)
• Aneurysms and Arterial Dissections
• Vasculitis (inflammation of blood vessels)
• Vascular malformations

Proper preparation helps ensure the best quality images and a smooth procedure.

• Instructions: You may be asked to fast from solid foods for about 4 hours before your scheduled appointment. However, we encourage you to drink plenty of clear fluids like water, black tea, or black coffee. Staying hydrated is important for your kidneys.
• Clothing: Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing. Avoid clothes with metal zippers, snaps, or buttons in the area being scanned. You will likely be asked to change into a hospital gown for the procedure.
• Medication: Please inform our scheduling staff and the technologist about all medications you are currently taking. It is especially important to mention if you take Metformin (Glucophage) for diabetes, as you may be instructed to pause it for a short period before and after the scan.

Pre-requisites

• A doctor's referral or prescription for the CT Peripheral Angiography is required.
• A recent blood test (within 30 days) to check your kidney function (Creatinine and eGFR levels) is mandatory before you can receive the IV contrast material.

Best Time to Take the CT Peripheral Angiography

There is no specific time of day that is biologically better for the scan. The test is performed during our regular hours of operation and will be scheduled at a time that is convenient for you and aligns with our appointment availability.

Eligibility

A CT Peripheral Angiography is suitable for most adults who have a valid medical reason for the scan.

Who is not eligible?

• Patients who are or may be pregnant.
• Individuals with a known severe allergy to iodine-based contrast dye.
• Patients with severe, untreated kidney failure.

Our team will carefully review your history to confirm your eligibility before the procedure.

Procedure for Taking a CT Peripheral Angiography

Knowing what to expect can help you feel more comfortable. Here is a step-by-step walkthrough of the ct peripheral angiogram with contrast procedure at Cadabams Diagnostics:

1. Check-In: You will arrive at our center, check in, and our staff will confirm your medical history, allergies, and review your kidney function results.
2. IV Placement: A certified technologist will guide you to a preparation area. They will place a small IV catheter into a vein in your arm or hand. This is where the contrast material will be injected.
3. Positioning: You will be asked to lie down on the padded scanner table. The technologist will ensure you are comfortable. The table will then slide into the center of the large, doughnut-shaped CT machine. The scanner is open at both ends, so you will not be fully enclosed.
4. Contrast Injection: The scan begins. At a specific moment, the contrast material will be injected through your IV. As it enters your bloodstream, it is very common to feel a warm sensation spreading through your body and sometimes have a metallic taste in your mouth. This feeling is completely normal and passes within a minute or two.
5. Image Acquisition: The scanner will quickly capture the images as the contrast-filled blood flows through your arteries. To get the clearest pictures, the technologist may ask you to hold your breath for a few seconds at a time. It is important to lie as still as possible during the scan.
6. Completion: The entire time you spend in the scanner room is typically only about 15-20 minutes. Once the images are a_pproved, the technologist will remove the IV, and you will be free to go. We recommend drinking extra water for the rest of the day to help your kidneys flush the contrast dye from your system.

Caution Before Taking the Test

For your absolute safety, it is critical to inform the scheduling staff and the technologist before the scan begins if you:

• Are or think you could be pregnant.
• Are currently breastfeeding.
• Have any known allergies, especially to medications, iodine, shellfish, or a previous X-ray contrast dye.
• Have a history of kidney disease, kidney failure, or diabetes.