THEangioscanner is an exam that allows you to visualize the blood vessels (veins or arteries). The examination consists of injecting a contrast product (opaque to X-rays) into the bloodstream in order to individualize the blood vessels and observe them with an X-ray scanner, which makes it possible to obtain thin section images.

The CT angiogram can involve all blood vessels: in the head, neck, thorax, abdomen and limbs, etc. It allows to have an overview at a given moment of the state of the blood vessels.

CT angiography is used to explore veins, arteries and their branches, as well as vascular malformations. Thus, it is for example possible to detect: 

• the presence of an aneurysm (localized dilation or swelling of the wall of an artery)
• thrombosis (a clot, also called a thrombus, forming in a vein or artery and blocking it)
• or pulmonary embolism (obstruction of the vessels of the lungs by a blood clot).

The CT angiogram is minimally invasive since it only requires the installation of a venous line, thanks to which the iodinated contrast product will be injected at the level of the elbow crease, while the patient is lying on an examination bed . This product being opaque to X-rays, it allows visualization of blood vessels.

The bed moves smoothly through an X-ray scanner as the X-ray information is recorded. The patient is asked to move as little as possible so that the images (x-rays) are of the best possible quality. These are then analyzed on a computer by the radiologist.

It is not uncommon for the patient to feel a sensation of heat when injecting the contrast product, but the examination remains painless and the product is not dangerous.

In order to complete his diagnosis and prescribe the appropriate treatment, the doctor may order other examinations to compare the results: clinical examination, ultrasound Doppler, or angio-MRI.