title: Evaluation of coronary bypass graft occlusion and stenosis with 64-detector-row computed tomography angiography.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A noninvasive imaging modality is desirable for the evaluation of coronary bypass graft stenosis and occlusion.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To prospectively evaluate the effectiveness of 64-detector-row computed tomography (DCT) for the assessment of coronary bypass grafts.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-two patients (35 male, seven female, mean age 66.3 years) with 103 bypass grafts (32 arterial, 71 venous) were examined with 64-DCT. The evaluations were done by two radiologists blinded to the results of quantitative coronary angiography (QCA), used as the reference standard.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All of the 26 occluded grafts, nine of the 10 stenosed grafts, and 66 of the 67 patent grafts were correctly diagnosed with 64-DCT angiography. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values for 64-DCT in detecting graft stenosis were 90%, 99%, 90%, and 99%, respectively. For graft occlusion, all were 100%. No statistically significant difference was found between 64-DCT and QCA for the evaluation of bypass grafts. Intermodality and interobserver agreement were excellent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  64-DCT angiography is a reliable, noninvasive diagnostic method for the assessment of coronary bypass grafts. It can be considered as a useful tool for follow-up purposes and may function as a gatekeeper before invasive procedures.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Radiology and Cardiology, Sifa Hospital, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Oncel
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Oncel
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tastan
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tamci
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D023903:Coronary Restenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006083:Graft Occlusion, Vascular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed