CT Coronary Angiogram (CTCA) in Peterborough
A consultant-led CT scan of the heart arteries
Arrange a CT coronary angiogram (CTCA) with Consultant Cardiologist Dr Salam Salloum (GMC 5209498), who holds SCCT Level II accreditation in cardiac CT and has reported over 2,000 cardiac CT scans.
A CTCA is a quick, non-invasive scan that shows the arteries supplying the heart muscle. It can find or rule out narrowing and plaque in the coronary arteries, and is often used to investigate chest pain and suspected angina.
Available at The Hamptons Hospital, Peterborough. You can self-refer without a GP letter, and the scan is reported by the consultant who reviews your case.
Price on enquiry
What is a CT coronary angiogram?
A CT coronary angiogram, also called CTCA or cardiac CT, uses a CT scanner and an injection of iodine-based contrast dye to produce detailed three-dimensional pictures of the coronary arteries. The scanner is timed to the heartbeat using an ECG, so the pictures are sharp even though the heart is moving.
It shows the walls of the arteries as well as the channel inside, so it can detect both narrowing and the soft or calcified plaque that causes it.
Who is a CTCA for?
A CTCA is most often arranged for people with symptoms that may come from narrowed heart arteries, such as:
- Chest pain or tightness, especially on exertion, where angina is suspected
- Breathlessness on exertion with no clear cause
- An abnormal ECG, exercise test or calcium score
- A family history of early heart disease together with symptoms
- Chest pain after a previous stent or bypass, in selected people
NICE guideline CG95 on recent-onset chest pain recommends CT coronary angiography as the first-line test for many people with suspected stable angina. The 2024 European Society of Cardiology guideline on chronic coronary syndromes also recommends it for people with a low to moderate likelihood of coronary disease.
What can a CTCA show?
- Whether the coronary arteries are normal, which is often reassuring and can avoid an invasive angiogram
- The location and degree of any narrowing
- The type of plaque: calcified, soft or mixed
- The amount of calcium in the arteries (calcium score), where this is measured
- The origin of the coronary arteries, including unusual anatomy
- Bypass grafts and larger stents, in some cases
Findings are graded using the standard CAD-RADS reporting system so that the result is easy to compare over time.
How to prepare for a CTCA
- You may be asked not to eat for a few hours before the scan. Drink water as normal.
- Avoid caffeine (tea, coffee, cola, energy drinks) on the day, because it raises the heart rate.
- Take your regular medicines unless we tell you otherwise.
- Tell us in advance if you have kidney disease, an allergy to iodine contrast or other medicines, asthma, an overactive thyroid, diabetes treated with metformin, or if you might be pregnant.
- Tell us if you use sildenafil, tadalafil or similar medicines, because they must not be combined with the glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) spray sometimes used during the scan.
A slow, regular heartbeat gives the best pictures. If your heart rate is fast, you may be given a tablet or injection of a heart-rate-lowering medicine before the scan.
What happens during the scan?
- A small cannula is placed in a vein in your arm.
- ECG stickers are attached to your chest, and your heart rate and blood pressure are checked.
- You may be given a GTN spray under the tongue to widen the arteries.
- You lie on the scanner couch. Contrast dye is injected, which usually causes a warm feeling that passes in a minute or so.
- You hold your breath for a few seconds while the scan is taken. The scan itself takes seconds; the whole appointment usually takes under an hour.
You can usually go home soon after, and drive. Drinking water helps flush the contrast from your system.
Safety, radiation and risks
The scan uses ionising radiation, and the dose is kept as low as reasonably achievable using modern techniques. The contrast dye can cause a mild reaction, such as a rash or nausea, in a small number of people. Serious allergic reactions are rare, and the team is trained to treat them. Contrast can affect the kidneys, so kidney function may be checked beforehand if you are at risk. CT is not recommended in pregnancy.
Your results and next steps
Dr Salloum reviews the images and provides a written report. If the arteries are normal or show only mild disease, he explains the result and advises on preventing heart disease, which may include cholesterol and blood pressure treatment. If significant narrowing is found, he explains the options, which can include medicines, further functional testing such as stress echo or cardiac MRI, or referral for an invasive angiogram.
You can discuss results in a face-to-face, video or telephone consultation.
Further reading: British Heart Foundation: CT scans for your heart; NHS: CT scan; NICE guideline CG95 on chest pain.
Limitations of a CTCA
- Heavily calcified arteries can make the narrowing difficult to measure.
- A fast or irregular heart rhythm, such as atrial fibrillation, can reduce image quality.
- Small or metal stents can be hard to assess.
- The scan shows the arteries, not whether a narrowing is limiting blood flow. Another test may be needed to decide on treatment.
- The scan can show findings outside the heart, such as small lung nodules. These are usually harmless but may need follow-up.
CTCA compared with other heart tests
NICE advises against using an exercise ECG alone to diagnose or rule out stable angina, because it is not accurate enough. A CTCA shows the arteries themselves. A stress echo or stress cardiac MRI shows how the heart muscle performs under stress. An invasive angiogram allows treatment such as a stent but carries a higher risk. Dr Salloum will recommend the test that best suits your symptoms and risk.
Cost and booking
The cost of a CTCA depends on whether a calcium score or additional images are needed. Please contact us for a fee, and we will confirm the total cost before you book. A consultation to discuss your results is charged separately. Dr Salloum is recognised by several major insurers; please check your cover before booking.
Location: the scan takes place at The Hamptons Hospital, Cygnet Business Park, Cygnet Road, Hampton, Peterborough PE7 8FD. See the Peterborough clinic page for directions.
Related services
Important limitations
- A CTCA is a planned outpatient test, not an emergency service.
- The result must be interpreted with your symptoms, examination and other tests.
- Some people are not suitable for the scan, for example because of pregnancy, kidney failure or contrast allergy. We will check before booking.
If you develop severe or persistent chest pain, marked breathlessness, collapse or another potentially life-threatening symptom, call 999 or attend the nearest emergency department.
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CT coronary angiogram FAQs
Where is the CT coronary angiogram performed?
The scan is performed at The Hamptons Hospital, Cygnet Business Park, Cygnet Road, Hampton, Peterborough PE7 8FD. Patients attend from Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire and further afield.
What is a CT coronary angiogram (CTCA)?
A CTCA is a CT scan of the heart arteries using contrast dye injected into a vein. It shows whether the coronary arteries are narrowed or blocked by plaque, without the need to pass a catheter into the heart.
Is a CTCA the same as a cardiac CT or calcium score?
A calcium score is a simple CT scan without contrast that measures calcium in the artery walls. A CTCA adds contrast dye and shows the inside of the arteries as well as the plaque. Both are types of cardiac CT.
Does a CTCA hurt?
No. You may feel a small scratch when the cannula is placed and a warm flush when the contrast is injected. The GTN spray can cause a short headache.
How long does a CTCA take?
The scan takes seconds. With preparation and the heart-rate check, the appointment usually takes under an hour.
How much radiation is involved in a CTCA?
Modern scanners and techniques keep the dose as low as reasonably achievable. The scanner is timed to the heartbeat so that only the necessary images are taken. We will explain the radiation involved when you book.
Who should not have a CTCA?
The scan is not suitable in pregnancy or for people with a serious contrast allergy or severe kidney disease. A very fast or irregular heart rhythm can reduce image quality, and another test may then be more suitable.
Do I need a GP referral for a private CTCA?
No. Self-funded patients can usually self-refer. If you use private medical insurance, check with your insurer first.
What happens if the CTCA shows narrowing?
Dr Salloum will explain the findings and the options, which can include medicines, further testing to see whether the narrowing affects blood flow, or referral for an invasive angiogram and treatment such as a stent.
Can a CTCA replace a stress test?
Not always. A CTCA shows the structure of the arteries, while a stress test shows how the heart responds to effort. In some people both are useful. Dr Salloum will advise which suits you.