CT Scan

We are the area’s most comprehensive computed tomography (CT) department, with multiple scanners and specially-trained technologists at several locations for flexible scheduling options. CT can detect very small changes in anatomy with precision, and 3D-reconstruction software can further process the images for more detail.

We provide you and your physician with the fastest, most technically-advanced, high-quality CT exam possible. CT has been a key component to Hendrick Medical Center becoming a Stroke Center of Excellence with invaluable imaging, such as regular CTs and CT angiography studies of the brain.

Coronary CT Angiography

Coronary CT angiography is new technology that allows physicians clear visualization of blood flow to the heart muscle, the pumping function of the heart and any calcium deposits in the vessels and/or any narrowing of the heart vessels that can cause a heart attack or stroke. Coronary CT angiography is a noninvasive alternative to traditional angiography and offers more detailed images of heart function, resulting in a faster, more accurate diagnosis. For some patients with chest pain, coronary CT angiography can rule out the need for cardiac catherization.

How does the test work?

Using an intravenous (IV) line, iodine containing contrast dye is injected into a vein. The CT scanner, which is monitoring the patient’s pulse (heart) rate, measures when the contrast will reach the heart vessels. When the contrast is in the heart vessels, the CT scanner takes hundreds of images of the heart. Those images then are combined to form a picture of the heart. Unlike a normal snapshot, this picture can be broken down to show just the arteries, the muscles or the veins.