CT angiography - arms and legs

You will lie on a narrow table that slides into the center of the CT scanner. When you are inside the scanner, the machine's x-ray beam rotates around you. Modern "spiral" scanners can perform the exam without stopping. A computer makes multiple images of the body area, called slices. These images can be stored,…

Some exams require a special dye, called contrast, to be injected into your body before the test. Contrast helps certain areas show up better on the x-rays. Contrast can be given through a vein (IV) in your hand or forearm. If contrast is used, you also may be asked not to eat or drink anything for 4 to 6 hours before…

Some people may be uncomfortable lying on the hard table. Contrast given through an IV may cause a: Slight burning feeling Metallic taste in your mouth Warm flushing of your body These feelings are normal and usually go away within a few seconds.

You may need this test if you have symptoms of a narrowed or blocked blood vessel in the arms, hands, legs, or feet. The test may also be done to diagnose: Abnormal widening or ballooning of part of an artery (aneurysm) Bleeding Swelling or inflammation of the blood vessels (vasculitis) Leg pain during walking or…

Results are considered normal if no problems are seen.

An abnormal result is commonly due to narrowing and hardening of the arteries in the arms or legs from plaque buildup in the artery walls . The x-ray may show a blockage in the vessels caused by: Abnormal widening or ballooning of part of an artery ( aneurysm ) Blood clots Other diseases of the arteries Abnormal…

Risks of CT scans include: Exposure to radiation Allergy to contrast dye Damage to the kidneys from the contrast dye CT scans give off more radiation than regular x-rays. Having many x-rays or CT scans over time may increase your risk for cancer. However, the risk from any one scan is small. You and your provider…

Kauvar DS, Kraiss LW. Vascular trauma: extremity In: Sidawy AN, Perler BA, eds. Rutherford's Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 183. Keily PDW, Lloyd ME. Primary and secondary vasospastic disorders (Raynaud's phenomenon) and vasculitis. In: Loftus I, Hinchliffe…