Imaging of coronary artery calcification. Its importance in assessing atherosclerotic disease.
Coronary artery calcification is a marker for atherosclerotic disease. The calcifications frequently occur early in the disease process and often before the development of luminal narrowing or cardiac events. Electron beam CT has a high accuracy in detecting calcifications, and thus has prognostic value in predicting luminal narrowing and future cardiac events.
Stanford
W
W
Department of Radiology, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, USA. william-stanford@uiowa.edu
Thompson
B H
BH
D002114:Calcinosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000473:pathology*; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed