title: Can the extent of epicardial adipose tissue thickness or the presence of descending thoracic aortic calcification predict significant coronary artery stenosis in patients with a zero coronary calcium score on multi-detector CT?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the extent of epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) thickness or the presence of descending thoracic aortic calcification on multi-detector CT (MDCT) can predict the presence of significant coronary artery stenosis in patients with negative coronary artery calcium (CAC).
  
  
  METHODS
  We enrolled 90 patients with negative CAC in whom both coronary CT angiography (CTA) and conventional angiography had been performed. Group 1 consisted of patients (n=27) with significant coronary artery stenosis (≥50%), whereas group 2 (n=63) had non-obstructive coronary artery stenosis (<50%) on conventional angiography. We analyzed whether or not there is a significant difference in EAT thickness or the incidence of calcification of descending thoracic aorta among the two groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant difference between EAT thickness on MDCT among the two groups. There was also no significant difference in the incidence of descending thoracic aortic calcification between group 1 (7/27, 25.9%) and group 2 (14/63, 22.2%) (p>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Neither the presence of abundant EAT nor calcification of descending thoracic aorta is a marker of significant coronary artery stenosis in patients with negative CAC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Chung-Ang University, College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hwa Yeon
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: In Sup
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Seung Min
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Ji Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Rho
authors.forename: Jae Youn
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: Charles S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: White
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism*; D000368:Aged; D000792:Angiography; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000473:pathology*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods; D023921:Coronary Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010496:Pericardium / Q000378:metabolism*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D002118:Calcium