Cardiac CT Scan in Sharjah
Medically reviewed by Dar Al Kamal Team
What is a cardiac CT scan?
A cardiac CT scan is a CT examination timed to the heartbeat so that the coronary arteries, the small vessels that feed the heart muscle, can be seen clearly. The scanner links each picture to the ECG trace so every image is taken at the same, stillest moment of the heartbeat.
There are two main types. A coronary calcium score uses no contrast and measures hardened, calcified plaque in the artery walls. The result is a number that reflects how much coronary artery disease has built up over the years. A CT coronary angiogram uses a contrast injection to show the inside of the arteries, including narrowings and softer plaque.
At Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah, your cardiologist decides whether a cardiac CT will answer your question, arranges the scan at a centre that performs cardiac CT, and goes through the result with you afterwards. General information about CT scanning is on the CT scan page.
Who needs it
A cardiac CT is chosen to answer a specific question about the coronary arteries. Your cardiologist may suggest one if you:
- Have chest pain that could come from the heart, and your likelihood of coronary disease is low to moderate, where a clear CT coronary angiogram can settle the question
- Have a borderline result from an ECG stress test or unclear symptoms on exertion
- Are weighing up preventive treatment, such as cholesterol-lowering medicine, and a calcium score would help the decision
- Have a strong family history of early heart disease alongside other risk factors
A calcium score is most useful for people whose risk sits in the middle ground, where the result can tip a decision one way or the other. It is usually part of a wider cardiac risk assessment and preventive cardiology plan. In the UAE, diabetes, high blood pressure and smoking, including shisha and midwakh, are common drivers of coronary disease, and they shape which test is chosen.
What happens
Your cardiologist first reviews your symptoms, ECG, blood tests and risk factors, and explains which type of cardiac CT fits your situation and why. The referral and the details you need are then arranged with the imaging centre.
On the day of the scan, small sticky pads are placed on your chest to record your heart rhythm. For a CT coronary angiogram, a thin cannula is placed in a vein in your arm for the contrast injection. The heart must beat slowly and steadily for sharp pictures, so you may be given a medicine to slow your heart rate before the scan, and sometimes a spray under the tongue to widen the coronary arteries.
You lie on your back on the scanner table, which moves through a wide ring. The radiographer asks you to hold your breath for a few seconds while the pictures are taken, often lasting only a handful of heartbeats. The contrast injection commonly causes a warm feeling through the body and a sense of needing to pass urine, both of which pass quickly.
A calcium score takes only a few minutes on the table. A CT coronary angiogram takes a little longer because of the preparation and heart-rate control.
Preparing for it
- Avoid caffeine such as coffee, tea, energy drinks and cola for the time the centre advises before the scan, because caffeine speeds up the heart rate.
- Tell your cardiologist about kidney disease, diabetes medicines, asthma, a previous reaction to contrast dye, or any chance of pregnancy.
- Bring your medicine list and previous heart test results, including ECGs, echocardiograms and stress tests.
- Follow fasting instructions for a CT coronary angiogram if the centre gives them; a calcium score usually needs none.
- Arrange pre-approval early, since insurers usually need to approve cardiac CT before the date is confirmed.
Afterwards
You can usually return to normal activities straight away. After a contrast scan, drink plenty of water through the day, especially in the UAE heat, to help your kidneys clear the dye. If you were given a heart-slowing medicine, you may feel slightly lightheaded for a short time.
A radiologist or cardiologist reports the images, and your cardiologist at Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah explains the result with you. This may lead to reassurance, a preventive plan, further tests, or referral for coronary angiography if a significant narrowing is seen.
Contact the hospital if you develop a rash, itching or swelling after the contrast injection, or if the cannula site becomes red and painful. If you have chest pain at rest, chest pain with sweating or breathlessness, or chest pain that does not settle, call emergency services or go to the nearest emergency department. Do not wait for a scan appointment.
Cost and insurance
Most UAE insurance plans cover cardiology consultations. Cardiac CT almost always needs pre-approval, and a calcium score done as a screening test without symptoms is often excluded. Cover for the scan itself depends on your plan and the centre where it is performed. Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah can help you understand your cover on 06 599 7777.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the risks and limits of a cardiac CT scan?
A cardiac CT scan uses ionising radiation, and a CT coronary angiogram also uses an iodine-based contrast dye that can rarely cause an allergic reaction or strain the kidneys. The pictures are less clear when the heart beats fast or irregularly, and heavy calcium can make narrowings harder to judge. A cardiac CT shows the arteries' structure, while a stress test shows how the heart copes with exertion.
Is a cardiac CT scan done at Dar Al Kamal Hospital?
Heart-specific CT is arranged at a centre that performs cardiac CT, and your cardiologist at Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah assesses whether you need it, arranges the referral and explains the result. General CT scanning is part of the hospital's radiology department.
What is the difference between a calcium score and a CT coronary angiogram?
A calcium score measures hardened plaque in the coronary arteries without any injection and is used mainly to judge future heart risk. A CT coronary angiogram uses contrast to show the inside of the arteries, including narrowings, and is used mainly to investigate chest pain.
Does a calcium score of zero mean my arteries are clear?
A calcium score of zero is reassuring and means no hardened plaque was found, which usually indicates a low near-term risk of heart attack. Softer plaque that has not yet calcified does not show up on a calcium score, so symptoms still need assessment by a cardiologist.
Why do I need to avoid coffee before a cardiac CT?
Caffeine speeds up the heart rate, and a cardiac CT needs a slow, steady heartbeat to produce sharp images of the coronary arteries. The imaging centre tells you how long to avoid coffee, tea, energy drinks and cola before your scan.
Is a cardiac CT better than an angiogram through the wrist or groin?
A cardiac CT and an invasive coronary angiogram answer related but different questions. CT is non-invasive and useful for ruling out coronary disease, while an invasive angiogram gives the most detailed view and allows treatment such as stenting in the same procedure. Your cardiologist advises which suits your situation.
Is a cardiac CT scan covered by insurance?
Most UAE insurance plans need pre-approval for cardiac CT, and screening scans without symptoms are often excluded. Cover depends on your plan and the imaging centre. Check with your insurer and confirm with Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah on 06 599 7777.
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