Cardiac CT

Comprehensive cardiac CT at LUX MED Diagnostyka Warsaw evaluating coronary anatomy, calcium burden, and cardiac structure using contrast-enhanced CT acquisition. Non-invasive alternative to diagnostic catheterisation for coronary artery disease assessment. Physician referral required under Polish law.

Cardiac CT at LUX MED Diagnostyka's Kasprzaka 17 Warsaw centre provides a non-invasive, comprehensive assessment of the heart and coronary arteries using a contrast-enhanced CT protocol timed to the cardiac cycle. The examination combines a non-contrast coronary calcium scoring pass with a contrast-enhanced coronary CT angiography acquisition, delivering both a total atherosclerotic burden index and a detailed map of the coronary arterial tree within a single appointment. The coronary artery calcium score obtained in the first, non-contrast stage quantifies calcified plaque using the Agatston method, assigning a validated cardiovascular risk score that stratifies the patient's ten-year event probability relative to age- and sex-matched population percentiles. This stage takes under a minute and involves minimal radiation. The contrast-enhanced CT coronary angiography stage follows immediately. Intravenous iodine contrast is injected with precise timing relative to the cardiac R-wave to ensure the bolus fills the coronary arteries at the moment of image acquisition. The scanner captures the entire coronary circulation — left main, left anterior descending, left circumflex, diagonal branches, and right coronary artery — in a single, sub-second scan. The raw data are reconstructed into multi-planar and three-dimensional volume-rendered images, allowing the reporting radiologist to examine each arterial segment from multiple angles. The cardiac CT report addresses coronary anatomy and dominance, the presence and distribution of calcified and non-calcified (soft) plaques, stenosis grade at each significant lesion, coronary anomalies, and incidental cardiac findings such as ventricular wall motion abnormalities, pericardial effusion, or valvular calcification. Non-calcified plaques — lipid-rich deposits that do not show up on the calcium score — are visualised and characterised, an important advantage over calcium scoring alone since soft plaques carry higher rupture risk per unit of stenosis than calcified lesions. Cardiac CT at LUX MED Diagnostyka is performed under protocols compliant with the current guidelines of the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography (SCCT) and the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). The ESC 2019 guidelines for chronic coronary syndrome designate CT coronary angiography as a first-line non-invasive investigation in patients with stable chest pain and low-to-intermediate pre-test probability — a recommendation that reflects the technique's high negative predictive value for excluding significant coronary artery disease. Patients preparing for the examination should avoid caffeine, nicotine, and strenuous exercise for at least four to six hours beforehand to achieve the stable, low heart rate that optimises image quality. Fasting for six hours is required before the contrast stage. A recent creatinine result must be brought to the appointment. Metformin should be discontinued 48 hours before and after contrast administration. Beta-blockers may be prescribed by the referring physician or administered at the centre prior to scanning to achieve a target heart rate below 65 beats per minute where needed. All CT in Poland requires a physician referral under the Atomic Law statute. LUX MED's network of over 10,000 physicians can issue same-day referrals if needed.