title: Value of 3D-volume rendering in the assessment of coronary arteries with retrospectively ECG-gated multislice spiral CT.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the diagnostic value and measurement precision of 3D volume rendering technique (3D-VRT) from retrospectively ECG-gated multislice spiral CT (MSCT) data sets for imaging of the coronary arteries.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 35 patients, retrospectively ECG-gated MSCT of the heart using a four detector row MSCT scanner with a standardized examination protocol was performed as well as quantitative X-ray coronary angiography (QCA). The MSCT data was assessed on segmental basis using 3D-VRT exclusively. The coronary artery diameters were measured at the origin of each main coronary branch and 1 cm, 3 cm and 5 cm distally. The minimum, maximum and mean diameters were determined from MSCT angiography and compared to QCA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 353 of 525 (67.2%) coronary artery segments were assessable by MSCT angiography. The proximal segments were more often assessable when compared to the distal segments. Stenoses were detected with a sensitivity of 82.6% and a specificity of 92.8%. According to the Bland-Altman method the mean differences between QCA and MSCT ranged from -0.55 to 1.07 mm with limits of agreement from -2.2 mm to -2.7 mm.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  When compared to QCA, the ability of 3D-VRT to quantitatively assess coronary artery diameters and coronary artery stenoses is insufficient for clinical purposes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University of Technology, Aachen, Germany. mahnken@rad.rwth-aachen.de
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Mahnken
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Wildberger
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Sinha
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dedden
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stanzel
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schmitz-Rode
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Günther
mesh_terms: D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D023921:Coronary Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D015607:Stents; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed / Q000379:methods*