What is the role of computed tomographic coronary angiography in diabetic patients?
All diabetes specialists are aware of the frequency and severity of coronary disease in diabetics. Non-invasive diagnostic tests perform well, but they could be better.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the role of computed tomographic coronary angiography in diabetics. New cardiac imaging techniques such as CT coronary angiography are promising tools for the selection of patients for conventional X-ray coronary angiography, which remains the key for diagnosis and angioplasty. The limitations of CT coronary angiography, even using the most advanced machines with a 64-slice capacity, are its resolution, the need for an iodine contrast agent and the cumulative radiation from repeated examinations.


CONCLUSIONS
CT coronary angiography appears to have great potential for patients at risk where non-invasive tests cannot absolutely exclude coronary disease and for the follow-up of coronary bypass surgery.
Bordier
L
L
Service d'endocrinologie, hôpital d'Instruction-des-Armées-Bégin, 69, avenue de Paris, 94160 Saint-Mandé, France.
Garcia
C
C
Goasdoué
P
P
Mayaudon
H
H
Dupuy
O
O
Guiraudet
O
O
Bauduceau
B
B
D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
D002118:Calcium