[Detection of coronary calcifications and coronary disease].
OBJECTIVE
The diagnosis of clinically silent coronary artery disease would be a major step in preventing episodes of acute cardiac ischaemia. We screened asymptomatic patients with hypercholesterolaemia with electron computed tomography (ultrafast CT) to determine the effectiveness of this method in detecting calcium deposits in coronary arteries.


METHODS
During a 3-year period, 1000 male subjects with hypercholesterolaemia were selected among the general population consulting for systematic work-shop check-ups. Electron computed tomography was performed in all selected subjects to detect coronary atheroma and those with major pathological results then underwent coronarography.


RESULTS
Calcium deposits in the coronary arteries were observed in 66% of the subjects with hypercholesterolaemia. Twenty cases with particularly pathological results were selected for coronarography which revealed that coronary narrowing was greater than 50% in 10 of them.


CONCLUSIONS
Electron computed tomography (formerly called ultrafast CT) is an effective method for detecting calcium deposits in coronary arteries and as such is a useful tool in predicting silent coronary artery disease.
Plainfossé
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Service de Radiologie centrale, Hôpital Broussais, Paris.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000209:etiology; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009787:Occupational Medicine; D012307:Risk Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Détection des calcifications coronaires et maladie coronarienne.