Cardiovascular Institute

CT coronary angiography is a non-invasive method that combines the use of injected contrast agents with the power of computerized tomography (CT) to locate, visualize and measure evidence of coronary artery disease within minutes, instead of hours.

Allegheny General Hospital was one of the first hospitals in the region to utilize the Siemens Somatom Definition™ Dual Source CT, a highly advanced imaging tool that sets a new standard in the noninvasive diagnosis of diseases of the heart and coronary arteries. This system can image patients with rapid or irregular heartbeat, or even arrhythmia, without the need for beta block medications that have been previously required with other CT scanners to slow the patient’s heart rate. This increases patient safety and also enables physicians to better identify plaque deposits in the coronary arteries—an early indicator of heart disease. Results are available for the physician’s immediate viewing.