title: Multislice CT coronary angiography: how to do it and what is the current clinical performance?
abstract: The introduction of multislice computed tomography (MSCT) has allowed non-invasive coronary angiography. Although widely applied, extensive information on technical details of the technique is lacking. This survey offers detailed information on patient preparation, data acquisition, reconstruction and interpretation. In addition, a summary of the available studies using MSCT for non-invasive angiography is provided. Based on pooled analysis of direct comparisons between MSCT and invasive angiography, the weighted mean sensitivity and specificity of current 16-slice MSCT for the detection of coronary artery disease are 88% and 96%, respectively. At present, the technique is particularly well suited for reliable exclusion of coronary artery disease. It is important to emphasise that MSCT only provides anatomical images, visualising the presence of atherosclerosis; information on the haemodynamic significance of these lesions (i.e. ischaemia) cannot be derived.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cademartiri
authors.forename: Joanne D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Schuijf
authors.forename: Nico R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Mollet
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Malagutti
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Runza
authors.forename: Jeroen J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Bax
authors.forename: Pim J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: de Feyter
mesh_terms: D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed / Q000379:methods*