Role of Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography in the Evaluation of Structural Heart Diseases

The benchmark for noninvasive anatomic examination for the coronary arteries is now Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA). CCTA has a strong positive predictive value and an even greater negative predictive value, making it possible to quickly determine whether coronary plaque is present in a patient and to prioritize which patients require more invasive testing and treatment. From the standpoint of an interventional cardiologist, CCTA is useful in establishing whether invasive therapy is necessary, more so than stress testing. The anatomic evaluation from CCTA more closely resembles the anatomical assessment of a coronary angiography when combined with functional assessments than any other noninvasive evaluation.