[Comparison of coronary angiography between 64-slice and 16-slice spiral CT].
OBJECTIVE
To compare the image quality and visibility of arteries of 64-slice spiral coronary CT angiography (CTA) with those of 16-slice spiral coronary CTA, and to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of 64-slice spiral CT for the assessment of coronary artery stenosis.


METHODS
Totally 100 patients (Group A) with suspected coronary artery diseases (CAD) were examined by 64-slice spiral CT, 48 of whom also underwent conventional coronary angiography (CAG). Another 100 patients (Group B) with suspected CAD were studied by 16-slice spiral CT. Patients with a heart rate above 70 bpm received oral beta-blockers before the scan. Data were retrospectively analyzed and reviewed by two observers. Image quality was assessed by using a 3-point grading scale from excellent (1) to non-assessable (3) and the rate of displayed coronary branches was calculated. The left main artery (LM), left anterior descending artery (LAD), circumflex artery (CX), and right coronary artery (RCA) were screened for the presence of over 50% stenosis.


RESULTS
The mean heart rates of two groups showed no significant difference [(61 +/- 8) bpm vs. (61 +/- 7) bpm, P > 0.05]. The mean scan time of Group A was significantly shorter than that of Group B [(11.9 +/- 0.9) s vs. (22.2 +/- 1.1) s, P < 0.01]. In the evaluation of image quality, better results were obtained in Group A than in Group B (1.20 +/- 0.47 vs. 1.37 +/- 0. 63, P < 0.05). The visibility of proximal arteries was similar between two groups, while the visibility of some distal arteries and small branches was found higher in Group A than in Group B (LAD distal 92% vs. 48%, CX distal 98% vs. 89%, the first obtuse marginal (OMI) 93% vs. 84%, cone branch (CB) 86% vs. 71%, P < 0.05). Compared with CAG, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of 64-slice spiral coronary CTA to identify over 50% stenosis were 94.9% (56/59), 93.2% (124/133), 86.2% (56/65), and 97.6% (124/127), respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
With higher temporal and spatial resolution, 64-slice spiral CT provides improved image quality and visibility of small branches as compared with 16-slice spiral CT. 64-slice spiral coronary CTA allows reliable non-invasive diagnosis of obvious coronary artery stenosis.
Wang
Yi-ning
YN
Department of Radiology, PUMC Hospital, CAMS and PUMC, Beijing 100730, China.
Jin
Zheng-yu
ZY
Kong
Ling-yan
LY
Zhang
Zhu-hua
ZH
Song
Lan
L
Zhang
Shu-yang
SY
Zhang
Li-ren
LR
Lin
Song-bai
SB
Wang
Yun
Y
Zhao
Wen-min
WM
D000368:Aged; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed / Q000379:methods*