title: [Clinical and angiographic correlates of coronary calcium scoring in multislice computed tomography (MSCT)].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The MSCT calcium scoring allows to identify patients with increased coronary event risk or at early stages of coronary artery disease (CAD).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to find the correlation of calcium score with various clinical features and degree of coronary stenosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  40 consecutive patients (10 women) with angiographically proven coronary artery disease were assessed for coronary calcium score by means of MSCT not later than 48 hours after the angiography. The acquisition parameters were as follows: 3.2 mm slice thickness, 1.6 mm increment, pitch 1.25, 120 kV, 200 mAs, rotation time of 500 ms, supine patients during single breath-hold. The calcium score was semiautomatically calculated taking into account the size and density higher than 130 Hounsfield units. The clinical features such as the presence of hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidaemia, obesity (body mass index), smoking, CCS angina score, previous myocardial infarction, CAD duration, degree of stenosis and diffused disease were also analysed by means of Spearman's test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The calcium score in the left anterior descending artery (LAD) 271 + 598 showed good correlation with the degree of stenosis in the LAD 69 +/- 37 (r = 0.591, p<0.0001) and angina score (median 2, p<0.001). It was also correlated as well as calcium score in the LMA 55 +/- 147 with the CAD duration of 9 +/- 9 years and diabetes (p<0.01). The CS in the RCA 102 +/- 362 was associated with the diabetes, dyslipidaemia and obesity with the p<0.03. The score in the LCX 282 +/- 797 was correlated with the degree of stenosis in every artery (p<0.001 for the LCX = 56 +/- 39). The total calcium score 675 +/- 1462 was associated with the angina score, CAD duration (p<0.001), diffused disease and the stenosis in the LAD and LCX (p<0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The total and the LAD coronary calcium score may be associated with the severity of symptoms, degree of stenosis in the LAD and disease extent. The calcium deposits in the RCA may be more frequent in patients with metabolic disorders.
authors.affiliation: Klinika Chorób Wewnetrznych i Kardiologii Wojskowy Instytut Medyczny w Warszawie. robert.ryczek@kardiolog.pl
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ryczek
authors.forename: Mirosław
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dziuk
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zagrodzka
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jaroń
authors.forename: Maciej
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zarebiński
authors.forename: Marian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cholewa
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Skrobowski
authors.forename: Paweł
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Twarkowski
authors.forename: Jerzy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Adamus
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002114:Calcinosis; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D023921:Coronary Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed