CT Coronary Angiography

Non-invasive 3D imaging of the coronary arteries using intravenous contrast on a cardiac-gated CT scanner. Detects calcified and non-calcified plaques, grades stenosis per vessel segment, and identifies coronary anomalies — without catheter insertion.

CT coronary angiography at Regina Maria Campus Medical Pallady provides a non-invasive, high-resolution map of the coronary arterial tree using a cardiac-gated multi-slice CT scanner and intravenous iodine-based contrast. Unlike conventional coronary angiography, no catheter is inserted into the body: a timed bolus of contrast injected into a peripheral vein perfuses the coronary arteries during the scan acquisition, and the scanner captures the opacified lumen and vessel wall at sub-millimetre resolution. The resulting volumetric dataset is reconstructed in multiple views and as a three-dimensional model of the left main, left anterior descending, left circumflex, and right coronary arteries from their origins to their distal branches. The radiologist traces each vessel and grades any stenosis by the estimated percentage reduction in luminal diameter. Segments with mild stenosis (below 40%) are typically considered non-obstructive; segments with intermediate stenosis (40–70%) may be flagged for functional assessment; and segments with severe stenosis (above 70%) are considered candidates for revascularisation or optimal medical management. CT coronary angiography provides information that coronary calcium scoring alone cannot: it visualises both calcified and non-calcified plaque. Non-calcified, lipid-rich plaques are the most dangerous type — they rupture most readily to cause acute myocardial infarction and are entirely invisible to calcium scoring, which only measures the calcified fraction of total plaque burden. CT angiography is the only non-invasive test able to detect non-calcified plaques and assess whether they are causing a haemodynamically meaningful narrowing. Pre-examination preparation at the Pallady campus includes avoiding caffeine, nicotine, and vigorous exercise for at least four hours before the scan. If the resting heart rate is above 65 bpm, beta-blockade may be administered beforehand to slow and regularise the heart rate, which significantly improves image quality and reduces radiation dose through the use of prospective ECG triggering. Patients with a history of kidney disease should provide recent creatinine values so the team can assess contrast safety. For international and self-pay patients attending Regina Maria's Bucharest imaging centre, CT coronary angiography represents one of the most cost-effective non-invasive ways to assess coronary artery health in Central and Eastern Europe, with prices substantially lower than equivalent examinations at Western European private hospitals, where the same study typically costs €500–800. The Pallady campus is accessible by metro (Nicolae Teclu station, Sector 3) and by taxi from central Bucharest in approximately 25–30 minutes. Appointments are booked through the contact centre at 021 9268 or online via the English-language website at reginamaria.ro/en.