title: Early experience of a CT coronary angiography service in a Scottish regional centre.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  CT coronary angiography (CTCA) is an emerging diagnostic tool in the assessment of patients with suspected coronary artery disease. It has several advantages over conventional coronary angiography (CCA); however, its use is not yet widespread in large teaching centres.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine what proportion of patients who have CTCA, do not require subsequent CCA.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective analysis of all patients referred for CTCA from the start of the service in January 2008 to April 2010.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CTCA provided definitive diagnostic images in 85% of patients. Overall only 12% (n = 33) of patients had subsequent CCA. The proportion of patients who subsequently had CCA reduced with time reflecting increasing confidence with the clinical service.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A CTCA service can be successfully established out with a large teaching centre hospital. Close working between cardiologists and radiologists leads to increased confidence in the service and obviates the need for CCA in a large proportion of patients.
authors.affiliation: Radiology Specialist Trainee, Department of Radiology, Raigmore Hospital, Old Perth Road, Inverness, UK.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rose
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ragupathy
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Turpie
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Atherton
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Leslie
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012606:Scotland; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
keywords: CT coronary angiography; Catheter coronary angiography