title: [Electron computed tomography of coronary arteries-- a new tool for diagnosis of ischemic heart disease and coronary atherosclerosis].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate diagnostic potential of electron computed tomography (ECT) in quantitation of calcinosis of coronary arteries (CA) compared to data provided by coronaroangiography (CAG).
  
  
  METHODS
  ECT of CA was performed in 142 patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD) who had previously undergone CAG and in 75 patients free of IHD. Eligible were the calcinates with density over 130 units by Hounsfield and area more than 1.03 mm2 located in the CA projection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sensitivity of the method was 91%, specificity--68%. IHD patients and those free of IHD differed by calcium index (477.1 +/- 700.7 and 6.49 +/- 19.35 units, respectively; p = 0.00001). The calcium index increased with age and severity of coronary atherosclerosis depending both on the number of affected vessels and the degree of their stenosis. In segment-by-segment analysis of the tomograms coincidence of CAG and ECT results occurred in 89% of the cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CA ECT is applicable for diagnosis of atherosclerotic affection of the coronary arteries.
authors.forename: N V
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: Kolotaia
authors.forename: V E
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Sinitsyn
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Ternovoĭ
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods