Does electron beam computer tomography provide added value in the diagnosis of coronary artery disease?
OBJECTIVE
Electron beam computer tomography (EBCT) is increasingly being used to diagnose coronary artery disease (CAD) in the asymptomatic patient. The aim of this review is to assess the current findings concerning EBCT in the diagnosis and prognostication of CAD.


RESULTS
Review of the English language peer-reviewed medical literature for EBCT was done with emphasis on the diagnosis and prognosis of CAD.


CONCLUSIONS
The goal of risk stratification is to limit aggressive and costly care to group of high-risk patients. EBCT has been used to track the progression of coronary atherosclerosis periodically. Studies have shown that the calcium score will increase from 18 to 22% per year and depends on the age, sex and renal function. Patients with end-stage renal disease have much higher counts. Because it is cheap and noninvasive, EBCT has been used to assess the effects of medications on velocity of increase in the calcium scores. There is concern about radiation for its use long term to assess the calcium score increase over a long period of time.
Fuseini
Mahamadu
M
Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Departments of Medicine and Physiology and Biophysics, University of Arkansas Medical Sciences and Central Arkansas Veterans Health Care System, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA. fuseinimahamdu@uams.edu
Goodwin
Whitney J
WJ
Ferris
Ernest J
EJ
Mehta
Jawahar L
JL
D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*