CT Coronary Angiography

Non-invasive 3D imaging of the coronary arteries with contrast on the Siemens SOMATOM Force. Detects calcified and non-calcified plaques and stenosis without catheter insertion or hospitalisation.

CT coronary angiography at Private Access Linz uses the Siemens SOMATOM Force — the dual-source system with worldwide serial number 14 — to capture the entire coronary arterial tree in a single breath-hold following intravenous iodinated contrast administration. The dual-source configuration halves the effective gantry rotation time relative to single-source systems, enabling the scanner to freeze cardiac motion even at higher resting heart rates without requiring beta-blocker premedication in most patients. Unlike calcium scoring alone, CT coronary angiography visualises the full vessel lumen and detects non-calcified (soft) plaques that carry the greatest rupture risk and are invisible to calcium-only protocols. The three-dimensional dataset allows the radiologist to reconstruct each coronary artery — left main, left anterior descending, left circumflex, right coronary — along its entire length and to grade any stenosis by its estimated luminal diameter reduction. Additional findings such as anomalous coronary origins, myocardial bridging, and coronary aneurysms are also identified. The SOMATOM Force substantially reduces the contrast volume required compared to older scanners due to its high sensitivity and fast acquisition speed, which lowers contrast-related renal stress. The iterative reconstruction algorithms maintain or improve image quality while cutting radiation compared to older CT coronary angiography protocols. The Private Access Linz team, led by Priv. Doz. Dr. Peter Brader — a habilitated radiologist connected to the Medical University of Graz — interprets findings and provides a structured report that cardiologists can use directly for risk stratification and treatment planning. No hospitalisation is required; patients typically arrive, undergo the scan, and leave the same day with digital results accessible via the patient portal.