Multislice computed tomographic characteristics of coronary lesions in acute coronary syndromes.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the feasibility of noninvasive assessment of the characteristics of disrupted atherosclerotic plaques, the authors interrogated the culprit lesions in acute coronary syndromes (ACS) by multislice computed tomography (CT).


BACKGROUND
Disrupted atherosclerotic plaques responsible for ACS histopathologically demonstrate large lipid cores and positive vascular remodeling. It is expected that plaques vulnerable to rupture should bear similar imaging signatures by CT.


METHODS
Either 0.5-mm x 16-slice or 64-slice CT was performed in 38 patients with ACS and compared with 33 patients with stable angina pectoris (SAP) before percutaneous coronary intervention. The coronary plaques in ACS and SAP were evaluated for the CT plaque characteristics, including vessel remodeling, consistency of noncalcified plaque (NCP <30 HU or 30 HU <NCP <150 HU), and spotty or large calcification.


RESULTS
In the CT profile of culprit ACS and SAP lesions, the frequency of 30 HU <NCP <150 HU (100% vs. 100%, p = NS) was not different, and large calcification (22% vs. 55%, p = 0.004) was significantly more frequent in the stable lesions. Positive remodeling (87% vs. 12%, p < 0.0001), NCP <30 HU (79% vs. 9%, p < 0.0001), and spotty calcification (63% vs. 21%, p = 0.0005) were significantly more frequent in the ACS lesions. Presence of all 3 (i.e., positive remodeling, NCP <30 HU, and spotty calcification) showed a high positive predictive value, and absence of all 3 showed a high negative predictive value for the culprit plaques associated with ACS.


CONCLUSIONS
The CT characteristics of plaques associated with ACS include positive vascular remodeling, low plaque density, and spotty calcification. It is logical to presume that plaques vulnerable to rupture harbor similar characteristics.
Department of Cardiology, Fujita Health University, Toyoake, Japan. sadakom@fujita-hu.ac.jp
Sadako
S
Motoyama
Takeshi
T
Kondo
Masayoshi
M
Sarai
Atsushi
A
Sugiura
Hiroto
H
Harigaya
Takahisa
T
Sato
Kaori
K
Inoue
Masanori
M
Okumura
Junichi
J
Ishii
Hirofumi
H
Anno
Renu
R
Virmani
Yukio
Y
Ozaki
Hitoshi
H
Hishida
Jagat
J
Narula
D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*