what is the difference between ct and cta?
(CTA). CT angiography is a type of medical exam that combines a CT scan with an injection of a contrast media to produce pictures of blood vessels and tissues in a part of your body. The contrast is injected through an intravenous (IV) line started in your arm or hand.
Sometimes oral and IV contrast are used to help delineate these structures and add to the radiologist's ability to better define the anatomy and any structural abnormalities. A CT-A (or CT angiogram) is a CT scan that is done to specifically look at certain blood vessels within the body. Intravenous contrast is administered and the images are taken when the contrast is thought to be passing through the vessels of interest.