EACVI Cardiac CT – MCQs with Explanations
1. What is the primary clinical indication for cardiac CT?
A. Evaluate lung nodules
B. Coronary artery disease assessment
C. Brain aneurysm detection
D. Liver lesion characterization
ANSWER : B. Coronary artery disease assessment
Explanation: Cardiac CT is mainly used to visualize coronary arteries, detect
stenosis, and assess plaque burden.
2. Which type of CT scan is preferred for coronary artery imaging?
A. Non-contrast CT
B. ECG-gated CT
C. High-resolution chest CT
D. Abdominal CT
ANSWER : B. ECG-gated CT
Explanation: ECG-gating reduces motion artifacts caused by the beating heart,
improving coronary artery visualization.
3. What contrast agent is typically used in cardiac CT?
A. Barium sulfate
B. Iodinated contrast
C. Gadolinium
D. Air
, ANSWER : B. Iodinated contrast
Explanation: Iodinated contrast agents are used to opacify the coronary arteries
and cardiac chambers.
4. Which parameter is most critical to reduce motion artifacts in cardiac
CT?
A. Slice thickness
B. Patient age
C. Heart rate
D. CT gantry size
ANSWER : C. Heart rate
Explanation: A low and stable heart rate (<65 bpm) reduces motion artifacts,
often achieved with beta-blockers.
5. What is the recommended heart rate for optimal coronary CT imaging?
A. 90–100 bpm
B. 70–80 bpm
C. 60–65 bpm
D. 50–55 bpm
ANSWER : C. 60–65 bpm
Explanation: Lower heart rates minimize motion and improve image quality;
below 60 bpm is ideal in some protocols.
6. Which coronary artery segment is most prone to motion artifacts?
A. Proximal RCA
B. Mid LAD
C. Distal LCx
D. Left main
ANSWER : C. Distal LCx
Explanation: Distal and smaller segments are more affected by motion and
limited spatial resolution.
,7. What is the typical radiation dose range for a cardiac CT angiography?
A. 1–2 mSv
B. 5–15 mSv
C. 20–30 mSv
D. 50–60 mSv
ANSWER : B. 5–15 mSv
Explanation: Modern dose-reduction techniques (prospective gating, iterative
reconstruction) keep radiation in this range.
8. Which reconstruction technique reduces noise and radiation exposure?
A. Filtered back projection
B. Iterative reconstruction
C. Maximum intensity projection
D. Multiplanar reformats
ANSWER : B. Iterative reconstruction
Explanation: Iterative reconstruction algorithms reduce noise and allow for
lower radiation doses.
9. Cardiac CT is NOT the first-line imaging for which condition?
A. Coronary artery stenosis
B. Pulmonary embolism
C. Coronary calcium scoring
D. Coronary anomalies
ANSWER : B. Pulmonary embolism
Explanation: CT pulmonary angiography is preferred; cardiac CT focuses on
coronary arteries and cardiac structures.
10. What is the main advantage of coronary calcium scoring?
A. Detect stenosis
B. Quantify plaque burden
C. Assess myocardial perfusion
D. Evaluate valve function
, ANSWER : B. Quantify plaque burden
Explanation: Calcium scoring quantifies coronary artery calcification, a
predictor of atherosclerotic disease risk.
11. What is the Agatston score used for?
A. Evaluate myocardial function
B. Assess coronary calcification
C. Detect pulmonary embolism
D. Measure aortic diameter
ANSWER : B. Assess coronary calcification
Explanation: The Agatston score quantifies calcified plaque density and area in
coronary arteries.
12. Which ECG-gating technique reduces radiation exposure the most?
A. Retrospective gating
B. Prospective gating
C. Helical gating
D. Axial gating
ANSWER : B. Prospective gating
Explanation: Prospective gating acquires images only at specific cardiac
phases, significantly reducing dose compared to retrospective gating.
13. Which structure is best visualized on non-contrast cardiac CT?
A. Coronary lumen
B. Coronary calcification
C. Myocardial perfusion
D. Pulmonary veins
ANSWER : B. Coronary calcification
Explanation: Non-contrast CT is optimal for calcium scoring but not for lumen
or perfusion assessment.
1. What is the primary clinical indication for cardiac CT?
A. Evaluate lung nodules
B. Coronary artery disease assessment
C. Brain aneurysm detection
D. Liver lesion characterization
ANSWER : B. Coronary artery disease assessment
Explanation: Cardiac CT is mainly used to visualize coronary arteries, detect
stenosis, and assess plaque burden.
2. Which type of CT scan is preferred for coronary artery imaging?
A. Non-contrast CT
B. ECG-gated CT
C. High-resolution chest CT
D. Abdominal CT
ANSWER : B. ECG-gated CT
Explanation: ECG-gating reduces motion artifacts caused by the beating heart,
improving coronary artery visualization.
3. What contrast agent is typically used in cardiac CT?
A. Barium sulfate
B. Iodinated contrast
C. Gadolinium
D. Air
, ANSWER : B. Iodinated contrast
Explanation: Iodinated contrast agents are used to opacify the coronary arteries
and cardiac chambers.
4. Which parameter is most critical to reduce motion artifacts in cardiac
CT?
A. Slice thickness
B. Patient age
C. Heart rate
D. CT gantry size
ANSWER : C. Heart rate
Explanation: A low and stable heart rate (<65 bpm) reduces motion artifacts,
often achieved with beta-blockers.
5. What is the recommended heart rate for optimal coronary CT imaging?
A. 90–100 bpm
B. 70–80 bpm
C. 60–65 bpm
D. 50–55 bpm
ANSWER : C. 60–65 bpm
Explanation: Lower heart rates minimize motion and improve image quality;
below 60 bpm is ideal in some protocols.
6. Which coronary artery segment is most prone to motion artifacts?
A. Proximal RCA
B. Mid LAD
C. Distal LCx
D. Left main
ANSWER : C. Distal LCx
Explanation: Distal and smaller segments are more affected by motion and
limited spatial resolution.
,7. What is the typical radiation dose range for a cardiac CT angiography?
A. 1–2 mSv
B. 5–15 mSv
C. 20–30 mSv
D. 50–60 mSv
ANSWER : B. 5–15 mSv
Explanation: Modern dose-reduction techniques (prospective gating, iterative
reconstruction) keep radiation in this range.
8. Which reconstruction technique reduces noise and radiation exposure?
A. Filtered back projection
B. Iterative reconstruction
C. Maximum intensity projection
D. Multiplanar reformats
ANSWER : B. Iterative reconstruction
Explanation: Iterative reconstruction algorithms reduce noise and allow for
lower radiation doses.
9. Cardiac CT is NOT the first-line imaging for which condition?
A. Coronary artery stenosis
B. Pulmonary embolism
C. Coronary calcium scoring
D. Coronary anomalies
ANSWER : B. Pulmonary embolism
Explanation: CT pulmonary angiography is preferred; cardiac CT focuses on
coronary arteries and cardiac structures.
10. What is the main advantage of coronary calcium scoring?
A. Detect stenosis
B. Quantify plaque burden
C. Assess myocardial perfusion
D. Evaluate valve function
, ANSWER : B. Quantify plaque burden
Explanation: Calcium scoring quantifies coronary artery calcification, a
predictor of atherosclerotic disease risk.
11. What is the Agatston score used for?
A. Evaluate myocardial function
B. Assess coronary calcification
C. Detect pulmonary embolism
D. Measure aortic diameter
ANSWER : B. Assess coronary calcification
Explanation: The Agatston score quantifies calcified plaque density and area in
coronary arteries.
12. Which ECG-gating technique reduces radiation exposure the most?
A. Retrospective gating
B. Prospective gating
C. Helical gating
D. Axial gating
ANSWER : B. Prospective gating
Explanation: Prospective gating acquires images only at specific cardiac
phases, significantly reducing dose compared to retrospective gating.
13. Which structure is best visualized on non-contrast cardiac CT?
A. Coronary lumen
B. Coronary calcification
C. Myocardial perfusion
D. Pulmonary veins
ANSWER : B. Coronary calcification
Explanation: Non-contrast CT is optimal for calcium scoring but not for lumen
or perfusion assessment.
