Usefulness of aortic valve calcium scores by electron beam computed tomography as a marker for aortic stenosis.
This study was undertaken to determine whether aortic valve calcium (AVC) scores measured by electron beam tomography can identify patients with echocardiographically defined aortic stenosis. Electron beam tomography is increasingly being used to detect coronary artery calcium. AVC can also be measured on electron beam tomographic (EBT) scans obtained to screen for coronary calcium. Whether EBT AVC scores correlate with the presence of aortic stenosis, as assessed by echocardiography, is unknown. Results of this study suggest that AVC scores should be calculated routinely for coronary calcium screening EBT scans, and that patients with Agatston AVC scores above a certain level (e.g., >150) should be referred for echocardiography.
Shavelle
David M
DM
Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA.
Budoff
Matthew J
MJ
Buljubasic
Nediljka
N
Wu
Audrey H
AH
Takasu
Junichiro
J
Rosales
Joseph
J
Otto
Catherine M
CM
Zhao
Xue Qiao
XQ
O'Brien
Kevin D
KD
D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D015415:Biomarkers; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis*; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012372:ROC Curve; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
D015415:Biomarkers; D002118:Calcium