A cardiac CT is a fast, low-dose scan that looks at the heart's arteries. It can reveal narrowing or the build-up of calcium, signs of coronary heart disease, often before there are any symptoms at all.
What it looks at
Depending on the question, it may measure the calcium in the coronary arteries, or use a small amount of contrast to look at the arteries themselves in detail. Both give a picture of your heart-disease risk that a blood test or a blood-pressure reading cannot.
Who it tends to suit
People with a family history of heart disease, or with risk factors they want to understand and act on, often find it useful. It is not the right first step for everyone, which is why it sits within a pathway rather than being ordered in isolation.
From scan to plan
A consultant reports the scan, and the findings guide a conversation about lifestyle, medication or further tests. Our cardiac pathway explains how it fits together.