[Association between clinical ischemic events and carotid calcification evaluated by 64 slices CT angiography].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the relationship between clinical ischemic events and carotid calcification detected by 64 slices CT angiography.


METHODS
We retrospectively analyzed the carotid calcified plaques in 116 patients underwent the 64 slices CT angiography. The relationship between the carotid calcification and the clinical ischemic events was analyzed.


RESULTS
A total of 377 plaques were detected and the incidence of carotid plaque calcification was 63.40%. Incidence of plaque calcification was significantly lower in patients with ages < 50 years than that in patients with ages 51 - 59 years, 60 - 69 years and higher than 70 years (P = 0.003, P = 0.002, P = 0.000, respectively). The incidence of plaque calcification in the common carotid artery was significantly lower than the carotid bifurcation (P = 0.000) and the internal carotid artery (P = 0.000). The incidences of calcification in the mild, moderate and severe degree of stenosis and occlusion were 46.54%, 33.33%, 26.67% and 0% respectively. The distribution of intraplaque calcium was similar between patients with ischemic event and non-ischemic event group. However, the incidence of calcification was significantly lower patients with ischemic event than that in patients without ischemic event (30.34% vs. 43.10%, P = 0.013). Calcified plaque was negatively associated with ischemic event (beta = -0.688, P = 0.006).


CONCLUSIONS
64 slices CT angiography can analyze the characterization of carotid plaque calcium.
Department of Radiology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China.
Xiao-Yan
XY
Yu
Wei-Jun
WJ
Tang
Ling
L
Liu
Li
L
Zhu
Bing-Cang
BC
Huang
Qiu-Feng
QF
Zhao
Bo
B
Yin
Yu-Xin
YX
Li
Dao-Ying
DY
Geng
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed / Q000379:methods*