Curved multiplanar reconstructions for the evaluation of contrast-enhanced electron beam CT of the coronary arteries.
OBJECTIVE
We investigated the applicability of curved multiplanar reconstructions for the evaluation of contrast-enhanced electron beam CT scans of the coronary arteries.


METHODS
Thirty-two patients (43-72 years old; mean age, 58 years old) underwent electron beam CT. After injection of i.v. contrast medium, 40 axial cross sections of the heart were acquired, triggered to the ECG during breath-hold (3-mm slice thickness, 1-mm overlap). Curved multiplanar reconstructions were obtained separately for each coronary artery. The reconstructions were independently evaluated by two investigators for the presence of high-grade stenoses and occlusions. The results were then compared with coronary angiography results, of which the two investigators had been unaware.


RESULTS
Because of degraded image quality, 15 (12%) of the 128 vessels (left main, left anterior descending, left circumflex, and right coronary arteries in 32 patients) were excluded from evaluation. In the remaining 113 vessels, 16 (89%) of 18 high-grade stenoses and occlusions were correctly detected (89% sensitivity). Absence of significant stenosis was correctly detected in 87 (92%) of 95 vessels (92% specificity). The negative and positive predictive values were 98% and 67%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Curved multiplanar reconstructions are useful in the evaluation of contrast-enhanced electron beam CT scans of coronary arteries.
Achenbach
S
S
Department of Internal Medicine II (Medizinische Klinik II), University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany.
Moshage
W
W
Ropers
D
D
Bachmann
K
K
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
D003287:Contrast Media