Coronary calcium measurements by double helical computed tomography. Using the average instead of peak density algorithm improves reproducibility.
OBJECTIVE
Coronary calcium (CC) measured by fast computed tomography (CT) was proposed recently as a noninvasive method of monitoring the coronary atherosclerotic process. Assessment of the reproducibility of CC measurements (mainly interstudy variability) is essential for consistent interpretation of serial studies.


METHODS
The authors scanned 74 patients (50 men and 24 women) twice on the same day to determine the interstudy variability of a new scoring algorithm, using the average instead of conventional peak CT density values.


RESULTS
Nineteen patients had no calcium on either scan. In the remaining 55 patients, interstudy variability was decreased by 31% using the average algorithm (32%-23%; P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Using the average instead of conventional peak density score provides better reproducible measurements of calcium by double helical CT.
Shemesh
J
J
Cardiac Rehabilitation Institute, Sheba Medical Center (affiliated to the Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel.
Tenenbaum
A
A
Kopecky
K K
KK
Apter
S
S
Rozenman
J
J
Itzchak
Y
Y
Motro
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*