CCTA & Cleerly

What is CCTA?

CCTA is a heart-specific diagnostic imaging test that helps determine if plaque buildup is present in the coronary arteries, the blood vessels that supply the heart. Computed tomography is commonly known as a CT scan. Patients undergoing a CCTA scan receive an iodine-containing contrast material as an intravenous injection to ensure the best possibly images of the heart blood vessels. While the CT scan itself only takes a few minutes to perform, you may be at the imaging center for an hour or longer. You will have your blood pressure taking before, during, and after the exam; additionally, you may be given a medication to slow your heart rate if necessary. After the CT, you may resume activities as normal.

A radiologist interprets the CCTA for the results, which are sent to your doctor for your follow-up. Typically, this is the final stage of the CCTA. With the Cardiac Institute of the Palm Beaches, patients receive this reading, along with their calcium Score (a descriptor of the quantity of calcium in their arterial plaque) as well as a second reading with Cleerly, Inc. Dr. Jeffrey Fenster believes this second step vastly improves the accuracy of the CCTA and ensures the proper treatment moving forward.

What is plaque and why does it matter?

Plaque is the physical representation of a disease called atherosclerosis. It deposits along the inner lining of the arteries and is made of various substances such as fat, cholesterol and calcium. Plaque, which builds up over time, can reduce or in some cases completely block blood flow to the heart. The presence and type of plaque in the heart’s arteries has proven to be the strongest indicator of an impending cardiac event, such as a heart attack.

Some types of plaque put you at a higher risk of heart attack. Non-calcified, low-density plaques are considered higher risk, because they are less stable than calcified plaques.⁴ When a non-calcified plaque ruptures, it can cause a heart attack. Fortunately, non-calcified plaques can be stabilized through lifestyle changes and medical therapy. Cleerly can show you your percentage of non-calcified plaque, and how your plaque has changed to become more stable over time.

What is Cleerly?

The Cleerly coronary analysis is a thorough evaluation of the presence, amount, and type of plaque in the heart’s arteries based on a CCTA study. Images captured in the CCTA exam are processed by Cleerly software – a set of artificial intelligence-based-algorithms- and translated into measurements and reports for review by the patient’s physician. The results of the Cleerly analysis give a patient and physician a comprehensive understanding of the patient’s current state of heart disease, guiding future treatment. Using both radiology reading and the Cleerly AI algorithm, Dr. Jeffrey Fenster is currently one of the only physicians in the Northern Palm Beaches offering this state-of-the-art option, but the Cardiac Institute of the Palm Beaches only offers this test for established patients.To contact the Cardiac Institute of the Palm Beaches, please call (561)296-52250.

Information & Images © 2025 Cleerly, Inc.