title: Non-invasive imaging of coronary artery with 16-slice spiral computed tomography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the value of 16-slice spiral CT in the demonstration of coronary artery and in the diagnose of coronary artery stenosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Plain and enhanced CT scans were performed with a 16-slice CT scanner (Sensation 16, Siemens, Germany) in 230 patients with suspected coronary heart disease (CHD). Parameters of the plain scan were: 120 kV, 133 mA, slice collimation 16 mm x 1.5 mm, rotation time 0.42 seconds, increment 1.5 mm, and slice width 3 mm. Parameters of the enhanced scan were: 120 kV, 500 mA, slice collimation 16 mm x 0.75 mm, rotation time 0.42 seconds, increment 0.5 mm, and slice width 1 mm. Enhanced CT scan was performed with a rapid intravenous injection of 100 mL iothalamate meglumine (Ultravist) (370 mgI/mL) or Omnipaque (350 mgI/mL) and 30 mL 0.9% NaCl chaser bolus at a flow rate of 3.5 mL/s. Calcium scoring with plain scan images and two and three dimensional reconstruction with enhanced scan images were made in all cases, among which 30 cases underwent conventional coronary angiography. Demonstration of coronary arteries and their stenosis were evaluated and the factors that might influence the image quality were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Coronary calcium scores were calculated and coronary artery was demonstrated in our study. In the evaluation of image quality with volume rendering technique (VRT) images, 78.3% of the images were of the first class, 12.2% the second class, and 9.6% the third class. Multi-planar reconstruction (MPR) and maximal intensity projection (MIP) were better than VRT in the demonstration of small branches. The image quality was related to the heart rate, with or without arrhythmia, and breath-hold ability of patients. Comparative study of the stenosis of coronary arteries in 30 cases showed that the sensitivity and specificity of 16-slice coronary CT angiography (CTA) to diagnose significant stenosis were 95.8% and 94.8% respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As a non-invasive and quick method, 16-slice coronary CTA is sensitive and specific to diagnose the stenosis of coronary arteries and can be used as a screening method in the diagnosis of CHD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730. zhangzhuhua2003@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Zhu-hua
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Zheng-yu
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Dong-jing
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Song-bai
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Shu-yang
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Ling-yan
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Lin-hui
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Wen-min
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Wen-bin
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Mou
authors.forename: Li-Ren
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Wen-ling
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ni
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Hong-quan
authors.initials: HQ
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Miao
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Fang
mesh_terms: D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D023921:Coronary Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed / Q000379:methods*