• CT scanning
• atherosclerosis
• coronary artery disease (CAD)

The introduction of non-invasive coronary angio-graphy with multidetector row computed tomo-graphy (CT) has the potential to substantially impact clinical cardiology. In the past, visualisation of coronary anatomy could only be obtained through invasive coronary angiography and therefore was restricted to patients with a high degree of clinical suspicion of haemodynamically relevant coronary artery stenoses, usually through evidence of ischaemia on non-invasive functional tests. The availability of a non-invasive approach is likely to change current indications and restrictions for angiographic evaluation. However, the technique is relatively new and is in continuous development. As a result, many potential clinical applications of coronary CT angiography (CCTA) have not been fully evaluated by clinical trials. Consequently, formal guidelines for the use of CCTA do not exist. In addition, some of the data obtained by recent trials may seem contradictory at first, resulting in uncertainty as to whether clinicians should utilise this technique in daily practice and, if so, which patients are most likely to benefit.1–3 ^w1–w3

In order to better appreciate the potential role of CCTA, the available data must be interpreted in the context of the particular strengths and limitations of the technique itself as well as characteristics of the investigated populations. The purpose of this article is to provide a perspective on potential applications of CCTA based on current technology and available clinical data.