CT PERIPHERAL ANGIO

So, what is a peripheral CTA scan? In simple terms, it combines two advanced medical technologies: a Computed Tomography (CT) scanner and a special contrast material.

• CT Scanner: This is a modern X-ray machine that rotates around your body, taking hundreds of detailed pictures from various angles.
• Contrast Material: A safe, iodine-based liquid (often called a "dye") is injected into a vein, usually in your arm. This contrast dye travels through your bloodstream, making your arteries and veins stand out brightly on the CT images.

A powerful computer then takes all these individual images and digitally stitches them together to create incredibly detailed cross-sectional slices and even 3D models of your blood vessels. This allows the radiologist to see the structure of your arteries and veins, identify any blockages or abnormalities, and assess your overall vascular health with remarkable clarity.

Types of CT Scan of Peripheral Angio

The test is tailored to the specific area of concern. The two main types are:

Lower Extremity CTA

This is the most common type of peripheral CTA. It focuses on visualizing the blood vessels from the lower abdomen and pelvis down through the thighs, knees, calves, and feet. It is primarily used to diagnose PAD.

Upper Extremity CTA

This scan focuses on the arteries and veins in the shoulders, arms, forearms, and hands. It is used to investigate issues like blockages, aneurysms, or trauma in the upper limbs.

When a radiologist at Cadabams Diagnostics reviews your scan, they are meticulously checking for several key parameters to assess the health of your blood vessels. These include:

• Vessel Patency: Determining if a blood vessel is "patent," meaning it is open and blood can flow through it freely.
• Stenosis: Identifying any areas of narrowing within an artery and measuring the percentage of the blockage.
• Occlusion: Locating any vessels that are completely blocked, preventing any blood flow.
• Aneurysms: Detecting any abnormal, localized bulges or ballooning in the wall of a blood vessel, which can pose a risk of rupture.
• Dissections: Looking for any tears in the inner layer of an artery's wall, which can be a serious condition.
• Thrombus/Embolus: Searching for the presence of blood clots within a vessel that may be obstructing flow.

Your healthcare provider has a specific diagnostic question they want to answer by ordering this test. Common reasons include:

• To investigate symptoms of claudication, which is a cramp-like pain in the calf, thigh, or buttock muscles that occurs during exercise and resolves with rest.
• To find the underlying vascular cause of non-healing ulcers or sores, particularly on the legs and feet.
• To evaluate for blood clots in the arteries of the legs or arms (acute limb ischemia).
• To serve as a detailed roadmap for planning surgical procedures, such as bypass surgery, or minimally invasive treatments like angioplasty and stenting.
• To assess for aneurysms in the peripheral arteries, such as the popliteal artery located behind the knee.

For more information on related conditions, you can read our guide.

When and Who Needs to Take a CT Scan of Peripheral Angio?

A doctor may recommend this scan for several reasons, typically for patients who are experiencing signs of poor circulation in their limbs. You may be referred for a CT Scan of Peripheral Angio if you are:

• Experiencing Symptoms: You have symptoms of poor blood flow, such as pain or cramping in your arms or legs during activity (claudication), numbness, weakness, or persistent coldness in your hands or feet.
• Suspected of Having PAD: You have risk factors or symptoms that suggest you may have Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD), a common condition where plaque buildup narrows the arteries.
• Recovering from an Injury: You have recently suffered a significant injury or trauma to an arm or leg, and your doctor needs to check for any damage to the blood vessels in the affected area.

Benefits of Taking the Test

Opting for a CT Scan of Peripheral Angio offers significant advantages for both you and your doctor:

• Highly Detailed Imaging: It provides comprehensive, 3D views of your vascular system that are far more detailed than what can be seen with a regular X-ray or ultrasound.
• Minimally Invasive: It is much less invasive than traditional catheter angiography, which requires inserting a catheter directly into an artery.
• Speed and Efficiency: The actual scanning process is very fast, often taking only a few minutes. This makes it an excellent tool for quick diagnosis, especially in urgent cases.
• Informed Treatment Planning: The precise images help clinicians make accurate and confident decisions about the best course of treatment for your specific condition.

Illnesses Diagnosed with CT Peripheral Angiography

This powerful diagnostic tool is instrumental in identifying and characterizing a range of vascular conditions.

• Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD): This is the most common reason for performing the test. The scan can accurately show the location and severity of plaque buildup (atherosclerosis) in the arteries. A CTA scan for Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) is considered a gold standard for diagnosis and treatment planning.
• Arterial Stenosis and Occlusions: The scan pinpoints the exact locations of narrowing and complete blockages in the arteries.
• Aneurysms and Pseudoaneurysms: It can clearly detect weakened, bulging areas in vessel walls.
• Vascular Trauma: Following an injury, a CTA can quickly assess if an artery or vein has been torn, compressed, or otherwise damaged.
• Blood Clots: The test is highly effective at identifying the presence and location of a CT scan for blood clots in legs or arms, particularly within the arterial system.

Proper preparation is simple but important for ensuring a successful scan.

• You will likely be asked to fast (no food or drinks except for sips of water) for about 4-6 hours before your appointment. This ensures your stomach is empty, which reduces the risk of nausea from the contrast injection.
• Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothes. You may be asked to change into a hospital gown to avoid any metal objects (like zippers, snaps, or buckles) from interfering with the images.
• Be ready to discuss your medical history. Inform the staff about any health conditions, recent illnesses, and all medications you are currently taking.

Pre-requisites

To ensure the procedure is both necessary and safe for you, the following are required:

• Doctor's Referral: You must have a referral or prescription from a qualified healthcare provider to undergo a CT Scan of Peripheral Angio.
• Kidney Function Test: A recent blood test to check your creatinine level and calculate your estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) is often mandatory. This test confirms that your kidneys are healthy enough to safely process the contrast dye.

Best Time to Take the CT Scan of Peripheral Angio

There is no "best" time of day to take the test. It is not affected by the time of day or other biological factors. Appointments are scheduled based on the medical urgency of your condition and the availability at our [Link to: Radiology Services] department.

Eligibility

Most individuals can safely undergo a peripheral CTA. However, it may not be recommended in certain situations. Please discuss with your doctor if any of the following apply to you:

• Pregnancy: The scan is generally not performed on patients who are or might be pregnant due to the radiation exposure.
• Severe Kidney Failure: Patients with significantly impaired kidney function may not be able to receive the iodine-based contrast dye.
• Severe Contrast Allergy: If you have had a previous life-threatening or severe allergic reaction to CT contrast material, an alternative imaging test will be considered.

Procedure for Taking a CT Scan of Peripheral Angio

The team at Cadabams Diagnostics will guide you through every step of the ct angiogram of legs procedure to ensure you feel comfortable and informed.

1. Check-in & Prep: Upon arrival, you will confirm your personal details and the procedure. You may be guided to a changing room to put on a medical gown.
2. IV Placement: A certified technologist or nurse will place a small intravenous (IV) catheter into a vein in your arm or hand. This is a quick process and feels like a small pinch.
3. Positioning: You will be asked to lie down on your back on the padded CT scanner table. The technologist will ensure you are comfortable and positioned correctly. The table will then slide into the center of the large, ring-shaped scanner (the gantry). The machine is open at both ends, so you will not feel enclosed.
4. Contrast Injection: The scan will begin, and at a specific moment, the contrast dye will be injected through your IV line. It is very common to experience a warm or flushing sensation spreading through your body as the dye circulates. Some people also notice a metallic taste in their mouth. These feelings are normal and pass within a minute or two.
5. Scanning: The technologist will speak to you through an intercom from the control room. You will be asked to hold very still and may need to hold your breath for short periods (10-15 seconds) while the machine acquires the images. The mechanical parts of the scanner will rotate around you, making quiet humming or whirring sounds. The entire scanning process is usually completed in just a few minutes.

Caution Before Taking the Test

Your safety is our top priority. For this reason, it is absolutely essential that you inform the radiologist or technologist before the scan if you:

• Have any allergies, especially known allergies to iodine, shellfish, or medications.
• Have ever had a bad reaction to a contrast dye injection in the past.
• Have any kidney problems, kidney disease, or diabetes.
• Are taking the medication Metformin (also known as Glucophage) for diabetes. You may be asked to temporarily stop taking it after the scan.
• Are, or think you might be, pregnant.