title: Imaging of coronary artery fistulas by multidetector computed tomography: is multidetector computed tomography sensitive?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Coronary angiography is the gold standard for diagnosing coronary artery fistulas (CAFs). Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) is a recently developed imaging technique for detecting coronary artery stenosis, coronary artery anomalies, and coronary artery fistulas and their courses.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to determine accuracy or sensitivity of MDCT in patients having CAF.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated 13 patients with 15 CAFs detected earlier by coronary angiography. MDCT was carried out on all patients and the results were compared with coronary angiography, following which, sensitivity of MDCT was detected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eleven of 15 CAFs were shown on MDCT and the overall sensitivity of MDCT was found to be 73%. Seven of 8 CAFs that coursed between two vascular structures were detected and the sensitivity of MDCT in this group was found to be 87%. However, the sensitivity of 58% of MDCT in patients with fistula coursing between coronary arteries and cardiac chambers was found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although coronary angiography is the gold standard diagnostic test for detection of CAF, MDCT may be an alternative test, especially, for CAF coursing between vascular structures, to detect origin, course, and the drainage site of fistula through its excellent spatial resolution and ability to show relationship of anatomic structures.
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Clinics, Turkish Society of Cardiology, Ankara, Turkey. kacmazfehmi@superonline.com
authors.forename: Fehmi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kacmaz
authors.forename: Nilgun
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Isiksalan Ozbulbul
authors.forename: Omer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Alyan
authors.forename: Orhan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Maden
authors.forename: Ahmet Duran
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Demir
authors.forename: Ramazan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Atak
authors.forename: Kubilay
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Senen
authors.forename: Ali Riza
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Erbay
authors.forename: Yucel
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Balbay
authors.forename: Tulay
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Olcer
authors.forename: Erdogan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ilkay
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D016157:Vascular Fistula / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*