The assessment of carotid atherosclerotic disease is an essential pre-requisite for determining a patients suitability for carotid endarterectomy to prevent ischaemic stroke. Catheter angiography is regarded as the most accurate investigative tool for this purpose. However, with its finite morbidity and invasiveness, there is an increasing reliance upon non-invasive methods to accurately assess carotid disease. We present a review of the technique and applications of computed tomography angiography.