How to read a CCTA report

A CCTA report is a physician’s description of pictures. It is not a treatment plan and not a second opinion from this website. Words below are a glossary so you can ask better questions. Your doctor interprets your study. This page is educational, not medical advice.

Who writes it, and what the header means

The reader is usually a radiologist, a cardiologist, or both. The header may list the technique (contrast CCTA, whether beta blocker or nitroglycerin was given, heart rate, and whether the study was diagnostic). If the report says the study is limited — motion, calcium bloom, irregular rhythm — that limitation matters as much as the stenosis numbers.

Billing for the scan itself is commonly CPT 75574. If AI plaque analysis or FFR-CT was added, that may appear as a separate comment or a later addendum. Those add-on paths are discussed under CPT 75577. Our listings show AI plaque and FFR-CT as Unknown unless a center has claimed the page.

Stenosis, in plain language

Stenosis means narrowing of the lumen. Reports often use ranges (mild, moderate, severe) or percent estimates. Percentages on CT are estimates, not a cath-lab caliper measurement. “Severe” or “obstructive” language usually means the reader thinks the narrowing could be flow-limiting — which still does not automatically mean you need a stent. That decision uses symptoms, other tests, and your preferences.

No obstructive CAD means the reader did not see a narrowing in the range they call obstructive. It does not always mean the walls are clean. Read No obstructive CAD — still plaque.

CAD-RADS

Many labs use CAD-RADS (Coronary Artery Disease — Reporting and Data System). It is a standardized way to summarize the most severe stenosis and, in later versions, plaque burden. You might see a number from 0 (no plaque or stenosis) through higher categories that flag moderate or severe disease, plus modifiers (for example for stents or a nondiagnostic segment).

CAD-RADS is a reporting language for clinicians. It is not a risk score you should treat at home, and it is not a HONcode or vendor badge. If your report uses different wording (Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography style without CAD-RADS), that can still be a complete report.

Plaque types you may see

• Calcified plaque — hardened, shows up bright on CT; related to a calcium score but not the same test
• Noncalcified (soft) plaque — seen because contrast outlines the lumen and the wall
• Mixed plaque — both
• High-risk or vulnerable plaque features — some reports mention positive remodeling or low-attenuation plaque. Those terms are research-informed descriptors. They are not a countdown clock. Ask your clinician whether they change medicines or follow-up.

A calcium score may be reported from the non-contrast portion of a CCTA protocol if one was performed. That number is extra information, not a replacement for the angiogram.

FFR-CT and AI plaque paragraphs

If the report includes an FFR-CT value or an AI plaque volume, treat those as additional interpretations, not as the CCTA itself. Vendors differ. This site does not endorse Cleerly, HeartFlow, Elucid, or any other company and will not invent that a hospital uses them.

Extra-cardiac findings

The field of view can include lungs, aorta, or upper abdomen. A “nodule” or “incidental” line item needs its own follow-up plan. Do not ignore it, and do not assume it is cancer. Ask the ordering clinician who owns that follow-up.

How to read the impression

Start at the impression or conclusion. Then read the vessel-by-vessel section if you want detail. Write down:

• The most severe stenosis and which vessel
• Whether plaque is present even if stenosis is mild
• Any “limited” or “cannot exclude” language
• The recommended next step in the report (if any) — then ask your doctor whether they agree

Bring the report to the visit that ordered the test. CCTA Scan does not interpret scans. For context on the test itself see What is a CCTA?. To find where CCTA was billed in 2024, use Find a CCTA or Los Angeles.

This article is educational and is not medical advice. Talk with your doctor about your report.