Accuracy of nonstenotic coronary atherosclerosis assessment by multi-detector computed tomography.
BACKGROUND
The ability to evaluate coronary stenosis using multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) has been well discussed. In contrast, several studies demonstrated that the plaque burden measured by intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) has a relationship to the risk of cardiovascular events. the accuracy of MDCT was studied to determine plaque and vessel size compared with IVUS.


RESULTS
Fifty-six proximal lesions (American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association classification: segment 1, 5, 6) from 33 patients were assessed using MDCT and IVUS. The plaque and vessel area were measured from the cross-sectional image using both MDCT and IVUS. Eight coronary artery lesions with motion artifacts and heavily calcified plaques were excluded from the analysis. The vessel and lumen size evaluated using MDCT were closely correlated with those evaluated by IVUS (R(2)=0.614, 0.750 respectively). Furthermore, there was a strong correlation between percentage plaque area assessed by MDCT and IVUS (R(2)=0.824).


CONCLUSIONS
MDCT can noninvasively quantify coronary atherosclerotic plaque with good correlation compared with IVUS in patients with atherosclerosis.
Hara
Tetsuya
T
Division of Cardiovascular and Respiratory Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Kobe University Graduate School, 7-5-1 Kusunoki-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0017, Japan. thara@med.kobe-u.ac.jp
Yamada
Shinichiro
S
Hayashi
Takatoshi
T
Ikeda
Yoshihiro
Y
Yamashiro
Kohei
K
Mizutani
Kazuo
K
Iwata
Sachiyo
S
Okajima
Katsunori
K
Tsukishiro
Yasue
Y
Matsumoto
Kensuke
K
Akagami
Takafumi
T
Kumagai
Hiroyuki
H
Kinugasa
Mitsuo
M
Inoue
Michihiko
M
Murai
Naoki
N
Izawa
Ichiro
I
Kajiya
Teishi
T
D000368:Aged; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional