Subtraction coronary CT angiography for calcified lesions.
One of the main problems in coronary angiography using 64-row computed tomography (CT) is that the presence of severe calcification interferes with the assessment of lesions, which reduces diagnostic accuracy and may even make assessment of some coronary artery segments impossible. With 320-row CT, it is possible to avoid this problem by performing subtraction coronary CT, which fully exploits the performance capabilities of the CT system. However, subtraction coronary CT has several limitations. When these limitations have been overcome, this technique is expected to become a useful method for assessing patients with severe calcification and evaluating coronary artery stents.
Division of Cardiovascular Radiology, Department of Radiology, Iwate Medical University Hospital, 19-1 Uchimaru, Morioka 020-8505, Japan. kyoshi@iwate-med.ac.jp
Kunihiro
K
Yoshioka
Ryoichi
R
Tanaka
Kenta
K
Muranaka
D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D016477:Artifacts; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D023921:Coronary Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D061205:Vascular Calcification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*