CT Angiography — Peripheral or Thoracic Vessels

Contrast-enhanced CTA of peripheral or thoracic vessels (aorta, pulmonary, renal, or leg arteries) to assess stenosis, occlusion, aneurysm, or dissection. Non-invasive alternative to catheter angiography. Estimated price: €300–400.

CT angiography (CTA) is a contrast-enhanced, non-invasive technique for visualising the arterial and venous tree without requiring catheterisation of the vessels. Intravenous iodinated contrast is injected via a peripheral cannula and tracked to the arterial phase using bolus tracking software, producing high-resolution three-dimensional reconstructions of the target vascular territory. Modern multi-slice CT enables imaging of the entire aorta, iliac, femoral, and popliteal vessels in a single breath-hold, or the pulmonary arteries and thoracic aorta in a focused acquisition. The principal clinical applications of peripheral and thoracic CTA include assessment of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) — the most common form of vascular occlusive disease, affecting lower limb circulation and often presenting with claudication or rest pain — where CTA provides a roadmap for angioplasty, stenting, or bypass surgery planning. Aortic CTA is the investigation of choice for suspected aortic aneurysm (assessment of diameter, shape, and involvement of branch vessels), aortic dissection (characterising the true and false lumen, and identifying organ at risk), and post-operative aortic graft surveillance. Pulmonary CTA (CTPA) is the definitive investigation for acute pulmonary embolism, providing direct visualisation of thrombus within the pulmonary arterial tree down to subsegmental level. Rehabilitační klinika Malvazinky's vascular relevance is substantial: the clinic's cardiology department performs comprehensive cardiovascular risk assessment, the orthopaedic and rehabilitation units manage patients recovering from vascular complications including amputation rehabilitation (the Walk School for amputees is a nationally recognised programme), and the Group Mediterra network provides the clinical infrastructure for vascular imaging follow-up in continuity with these specialist services. The standard CTA protocol for peripheral vessels requires fasting from solid food for four to six hours before the examination. Kidney function must be acceptable for contrast administration (creatinine/eGFR checked if there is any known renal impairment). The examination itself takes fifteen to twenty minutes in the department; the full appointment, including preparation, cannula insertion, and contrast injection, typically lasts forty-five to sixty minutes. Three-dimensional volume-rendered reconstructions and maximum intensity projection (MIP) images are standard outputs alongside the axial source data. The radiology report will address the specific clinical question — stenosis grade at key anatomical segments, presence and extent of thrombus, aneurysm dimensions, or dissection classification — in a format structured for the referring specialist. For international patients, English-language reports are available through the Group Mediterra International Patient Program. Czech private-market pricing for CTA typically ranges from 7,500 to 10,000 CZK (€300–400), representing significant savings relative to comparable studies in Germany (€450–700) or Austria (€400–650).