title: The prognostic significance of coronary CT angiography.
abstract: Coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) is an increasingly utilized, highly accurate noninvasive test for the diagnosis of coronary artery disease. Accumulating data have convincingly demonstrated that the presence, extent, and location of both obstructive and nonobstructive coronary atherosclerosis visualized on coronary CTA conveys powerful prognostic information, incremental to that provided by clinical variables and coronary calcium scoring. Proposed markers of future plaque instability and coronary risk, such as the degree of vessel remodeling and low-attenuation plaque volume, as well as measures of CT myocardial perfusion, may further improve the prognostic value of CTA. Ultimately, studies are needed to assess whether the prognostic information provided by coronary CTA testing results in sustained changes in patient and provider behaviors that cost effectively improve patient outcomes.
authors: Cardiology Service, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, USA. kevin.woods2@med.navy.mil
authors: Kevin M
authors: KM
authors: Woods
authors: Collin
authors: C
authors: Fischer
authors: Michael K
authors: MK
authors: Cheezum
authors: Edward A
authors: EA
authors: Hulten
authors: Binh
authors: B
authors: Nguyen
authors: Todd C
authors: TC
authors: Villines
mesh_terms: D002114:Calcinosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000175:diagnosis*; D023921:Coronary Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed