title: Predictive value of computed tomography coronary angiography for the evaluation of acute chest pain: single center preliminary experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the predictive value of CT coronary angiography (CT-CA) in the stratification of patients with acute chest pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  We enrolled 48 patients (31 males and 17 females, mean age 61.0 +/- 14yrs) with acute chest pain of suspected coronary origin, without diagnostic alterations of the ECG and/or increase of the myocardial biomarkers. Sixty-four slice CT-CA was performed within 48-72 hours. Depending on the clinical judgment, the patients were dismissed or underwent conventional coronary angiography (CAG). Patients underwent clinical follow-up at 6 months, recording the prevalence of major cardiovascular events.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One patient was excluded from the analysis because of poor image quality. CT-CA showed no coronary artery disease in 38.3% (18/47) of the patients, no significant coronary artery disease (<50% lumen reduction) in 31.9% (15/47) of the patients, significant coronary artery disease (> or = 50% lumen reduction) in 29.8% (14/47) of the patients. In 87.2% (41/47) of the patients no indication for CAG was present. In 6 (12,8%) patients with significant stenosis at CT-CA indication for CAG was present. In 50% (3/6) of these patients, CAG showed no significant coronary artery disease and in the remaining 50%(3/6) CAG was followed by percutaneous coronary angioplasty. At follow-up no major cardiovascular events were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CT-CA showed high sensitivity for the detection of significant coronary artery disease and a negative predictive value at 6-month follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Cardiology, University Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Erica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Maffei
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Palumbo
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Martini
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Notarangelo
authors.forename: Cosetta
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Saccò
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ugo
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lina
authors.forename: Annachiara
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aldrovandi
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Reverberi
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Manca
authors.forename: Gianfranco
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cervellin
authors.forename: Girolamo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Crisi
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cademartiri
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000175:diagnosis*; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed