title: Non-invasive evaluation of coronary calcium.
abstract: With the increasing diffusion of 4-row,16-row and 64-row multislice computed tomography scanners, widespread coronary calcium scoring has become possible in Europe. This relatively easy-to-perform test has a high sensitivity and low specificity for the detection of significant coronary artery stenosis, and may have an important role in the risk stratification for future coronary artery events in selected groups of patients, such as those immediately at risk. This study reviews the techniques available for coronary calcium scoring (electron beam tomography and multislice computed tomography) with their respective protocols, as well as their advantages and disadvantages. The methods for interpreting the results, the potential indications and the clinical applications of the techniques are also described.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Radiologia, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. filippocademartiri@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cademartiri
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Runza
authors.forename: Ludovico
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: La Grutta
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Palumbo
authors.forename: Nico R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Mollet
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Brambilla
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gualerzi
authors.forename: Giacomo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Luccichenti
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Marano
authors.forename: Gabriel P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Krestin
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Coruzzi
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Midiri
mesh_terms: D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D023921:Coronary Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*