What does a CTA Chest primarily evaluate?

A CTA (Computed Tomography Angiography) of the chest is primarily utilized to evaluate for pulmonary embolism, which is a blockage in one of the pulmonary arteries in the lungs usually caused by blood clots that travel to the lungs from the legs or other parts of the body (deep vein thrombosis). This imaging technique is highly sensitive and specific for detecting vascular occlusion and examines the blood vessels in great detail, allowing healthcare providers to confirm or rule out pulmonary embolism effectively.

While the other conditions listed — cystic fibrosis, lung cancer, and pneumonia — can also be assessed using CT imaging, they are not the primary indications for a CTA. Cystic fibrosis primarily affects the airways and lungs, which would be better evaluated with a standard chest CT or other imaging focusing on lung parenchyma. Lung cancer screening typically involves low-dose lung CT rather than a CTA, as it focuses on identifying nodules and masses rather than vascular structures. Pneumonia can also be diagnosed with standard chest X-rays or CT scans, but these do not specifically evaluate the blood vessels of the lungs like a CTA does. Hence, pulmonary embolism stands out as the primary focus of a CTA chest.