Coronary calcium scoring using 16-row multislice computed tomography: nonenhanced versus contrast-enhanced studies in vitro and in vivo.
Invest Radiol
; 40(3): 148-54, 2005 Mar.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-15714089
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES:
We sought to assess the agreement of coronary artery calcium score in nonenhanced and contrast-enhanced multislice-spiral computed tomography. MATERIALS ANDMETHODS:
Vessel phantoms and 36 patients underwent nonenhanced and contrast-enhanced cardiac multislice-spiral computed tomography (Sensation 16; Siemens, Germany). Reconstruction-parameters slice thickness 3 mm, increment 2 mm, kernels B35f and B30f. The Agatston score, calcium mass, and number of lesions were calculated. Images were scored using detection thresholds of 130 Hounsfield units (HU) and 350 HU. Based on the Agatston score, risk stratification was performed.RESULTS:
In the phantom and patient study, altering the threshold from 130 to 350 HU led to a significant decrease in the mean Agatston score (phantom 54.6%, patients 66.7%) and calcium mass (33.0%, 47.0%) (B35f). Contrast-enhanced studies (threshold 350 HU) showed an increase of the mean Agatston score (71.0%, 20.7%) and calcium mass (81.0%, 16.0%) when compared with nonenhanced scans (threshold 350 HU). A total of 57% of all patients were assigned to different risk groups.CONCLUSIONS:
Contrast material may simulate calcification; therefore, calculation of the coronary calcium score from contrast-enhanced images is not reliable.
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Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Coronary Artery Disease
/
Iohexol
/
Calcinosis
/
Contrast Media
/
Tomography, Spiral Computed
/
Cardiomyopathies
Limits:
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Language:
En
Journal:
Invest Radiol
Year:
2005
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Germany