CT WHOLE BODY ANGIOGRAPHY

To understand a Full Body CT Angiography (CTA), it's helpful to break it down into its two main components: CT and Angiography.

Computed Tomography (CT)

A CT scanner is an advanced X-ray machine that rotates around your body, taking multiple images from different angles. A powerful computer then processes these images to create detailed, cross-sectional "slices" of your body's internal structures, including bones, soft tissues, and blood vessels. Think of it as looking at a loaf of bread one slice at a time.

Angiography

This is the specific technique used to visualize blood vessels. It involves injecting a special contrast dye, usually containing iodine, into your bloodstream through a small intravenous (IV) line in your arm. As this dye travels through your arteries and veins, it makes them stand out brightly on the CT images.

Types of Full Body CT Angiography

The primary and most effective version of this test is the full body CTA with contrast dye. This is because visualizing the hollow, fluid-filled channels of your blood vessels requires the contrast agent to make them visible on the scan.

To highlight its importance, we can contrast it with a standard non-contrast CT scan. A non-contrast scan is excellent for visualizing solid structures like bones, dense organs, and identifying abnormal calcifications or bleeding. However, without the dye, the blood vessels themselves would blend in with surrounding soft tissues and would not be clearly delineated.

Therefore, for the specific purpose of assessing blood vessel health, the full body CTA with contrast dye is the definitive procedure. It can be part of a larger diagnostic workup that might include more focused scans, such as a Coronary CTA (for the heart) or a Brain CTA, depending on the specific clinical question.

After your scan is complete, a specialized radiologist meticulously analyzes the hundreds of images produced. They are looking for specific signs of vascular disease. This detailed analysis answers the key question: what does a full body CTA show?

Here are the main parameters considered:

• Atherosclerosis: The presence of plaque, which is a buildup of fat, cholesterol, calcium, and other substances inside the arteries. The radiologist notes the location and extent of this plaque.
• Stenosis: This refers to the narrowing of a blood vessel. The report will often quantify the degree of narrowing (e.g., mild, moderate, or severe stenosis) as this directly impacts blood flow.
• Occlusion: This is a complete blockage of a blood vessel, which prevents any blood from passing through. This is a critical finding that often requires urgent medical attention.
• Aneurysm: The radiologist looks for any abnormal ballooning or bulging in the wall of an artery (like the aorta or arteries in the brain or legs). They will measure its size and shape, as this helps determine the risk of rupture.
• Dissection: This is a serious condition where a tear occurs in the inner layer of an artery wall, allowing blood to flow between the layers and force them apart.
• Anatomical Variations: The scan also shows any congenital (present from birth) variations in the patient's vascular anatomy, which can be crucial information for surgical planning.

You or your doctor may decide on a Full Body CT Angiography for several important reasons, each aimed at gaining a comprehensive understanding of your vascular health.

• To investigate symptoms of Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) when they affect multiple parts of the body, such as pain in both the legs and arms.
• To screen for hidden aneurysms, particularly in the aorta (the body's main artery) and other major vessels like those in the brain or behind the knees.
• To evaluate the extent of vascular trauma throughout the body after a major accident or injury.
• To establish a baseline assessment of a person's overall vascular health, especially for those with a combination of significant risk factors like diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and a history of smoking.

When and Who Needs to Take a Full Body CTA?

A Full Body CT Angiography is often recommended when a physician suspects a widespread vascular issue or when a patient presents with multiple risk factors that put them at high risk for vascular disease. It serves as an excellent full body vascular disease screening tool, providing a complete picture in a single session.

Benefits of Taking the Test

The decision to undergo a Full Body CT Angiography comes with significant benefits for both you and your healthcare team.

• Comprehensive View: It is one of the only non-invasive tests that provides a complete, head-to-toe assessment of your entire arterial system in a single appointment, making it an efficient tool for full body vascular disease screening.
• Non-Invasive: Unlike traditional catheter angiography, which requires inserting a catheter into an artery (usually in the groin) and guiding it to the area of interest, a CTA is far less invasive, requiring only a simple IV injection.
• Fast and Accurate: The scan itself is very quick, often completed in under 30 minutes. The high-resolution, 3D images it produces allow for a highly accurate diagnosis.
• Effective Treatment Planning: The detailed vascular map created by the CTA provides crucial information that helps your doctor decide on the best course of action, whether it be lifestyle changes, medication, a minimally invasive procedure (like stenting), or surgery.

Illnesses Diagnosed with Full Body CTA

A Full Body CT Angiography is instrumental in diagnosing a wide range of conditions affecting the arteries. This is what a full body CTA shows in definitive terms, providing clarity for your physician.

• Widespread Atherosclerosis: The hardening and narrowing of arteries in multiple locations throughout the body.
• Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD): A circulatory problem in which narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to your limbs, most commonly the legs. A full body scan can show if this process is also affecting the arms or other areas.
• Aortic Aneurysms and Dissections: Can detect and measure aneurysms in the chest (thoracic) and abdomen (abdominal) sections of the aorta, as well as identify life-threatening aortic dissections.
• Carotid Artery Disease: Identifies stenosis (narrowing) in the carotid arteries in the neck, which is a major risk factor for stroke.
• Renal Artery Stenosis: Detects narrowing of the arteries that supply blood to the kidneys, a condition that can cause high blood pressure and kidney damage.
• Iliac or Femoral Artery Disease: Shows blockages or narrowing in the major arteries of the pelvis and legs, which cause symptoms of PAD.

Proper preparation is key to ensuring a smooth procedure and high-quality scan results. Please follow these instructions carefully.

• Diet: You will likely be asked to fast (not eat any solid food) for 4 to 6 hours before your scheduled appointment. Drinking clear liquids like water, black coffee, or clear tea is usually permitted and encouraged to stay hydrated.
• Clothing: Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothes without any metal parts like zippers, snaps, or metal-threaded fabric. You may be given a hospital gown to wear to ensure no metal interferes with the scan. Please remove all jewelry, piercings, and hearing aids before the test.
• Inform Staff: It is vital that you provide our staff at Cadabams Diagnostics with your complete medical history. This includes a list of all your current medications (prescription and over-the-counter), any known allergies, and past surgeries.

Pre-requisites

Before you can have the scan, there are two primary requirements:

1. Doctor's Referral: A Full Body CT Angiography must be prescribed by a qualified physician. You will need a referral or prescription from your doctor.
2. Kidney Function Test: Because the procedure requires an iodine-based contrast dye, a recent blood test to check your kidney function (specifically Serum Creatinine and eGFR) is mandatory. This ensures it is safe for you to receive the contrast agent.

Best Time to Take the Full Body CTA

The test can be scheduled at any time of day that is convenient for you and works with our imaging center's schedule. Many patients prefer morning appointments as it makes the required fasting period easier to manage.

Eligibility

This test is for eligible individuals who meet certain criteria:

• Patients with a clear medical need and a doctor's referral for the scan.
• Patients who have adequate kidney function as confirmed by recent blood tests.
• The scan is not recommended for pregnant patients due to the radiation exposure, unless in a life-threatening emergency where the benefits clearly outweigh the risks.

Procedure for Taking a Full Body CTA

Knowing what to expect can help ease any anxiety about your appointment. The whole body CT angiography procedure at Cadabams Diagnostics is a well-organized process designed for your comfort and safety.

• Step 1: Arrival & Prep: You will check in at the reception desk, confirm your medical history and allergies with our staff, and be asked to change into a medical gown if necessary.
• Step 2: IV Insertion: A skilled technologist will gently place a thin, flexible tube called an IV cannula into a vein in your arm or hand. This is the line through which the contrast dye will be administered.
• Step 3: Positioning: You will be asked to lie down comfortably on your back on the padded CT scanner table. The technologist will ensure you are positioned correctly. The table will then begin to move slowly through the center of the large, circular CT scanner (gantry).
• Step 4: Contrast Injection: At a precise moment during the scan, the full body CTA with contrast dye will be injected through your IV. You may experience a warm, flushing sensation spreading through your body and possibly a metallic taste in your mouth. This is a very common and normal reaction that lasts for only a minute or two.
• Step 5: Scanning: The CT machine will move you through the gantry as it captures hundreds of images from your head to your feet. The technologist, communicating through an intercom, will give you simple instructions, such as asking you to hold your breath for 10-15 seconds at a time to prevent blurry images.
• Step 6: Completion: The entire scanning process usually takes about 15 to 30 minutes. Once complete, the technologist will return to the room, the table will move out of the scanner, and your IV line will be removed. You may be asked to wait for a short 15-20 minute observation period before you are free to go.

Caution Before Taking the Test

Your safety is our top priority. It is absolutely crucial that you inform the technologist and our staff before the scan begins if any of the following apply to you:

• Pregnancy: If you are or think you might be pregnant.
• Breastfeeding: If you are currently breastfeeding, as special instructions may apply regarding the contrast dye.
• Allergies: If you have ANY allergies, especially a known allergy to iodine, shellfish, or if you have ever had a reaction to contrast dye in the past.
• Kidney Problems: If you have a history of kidney disease, kidney failure, kidney cancer, or are on dialysis.
• Diabetes Medication: If you take Metformin (e.g., Glucophage) for diabetes. You may be instructed to temporarily stop taking it after the scan.