title: A survey of the current status of coronary CT angiography using 64-slice multidetector CT in Taiwan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The 64-slice multidetector CT (64-MDCT) has bolstered the sensitivity and specificity of coronary CT angiography (CCTA) for detecting coronary artery disease. We performed this study to understand the current status of CCTA using 64-MDCT, so as to determine further promotion and optimal regulation schemes of CCTA in Taiwan.
  
  
  METHODS
  Information about CCTA from 68 domestic hospitals with 64-MDCT was collected by means of a questionnaire from July 2009 to January 2010. The studied details included: (1) the implementation background of CCTA; (2) the interdisciplinary cooperation and report processing of CCTA; and (3) the promotion strategy of CCTA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of CCTA sites (89.7%) were administered by diagnostic radiologists. Most cardiologists and cardiac surgeons have confirmed its clinical value by referring patients to undergo CCTA. Of the CCTA reports by radiologists, 41.2% had their report supplemented by referring cardiologists. Such cooperation amongst specialists promoted the development of CCTA. Of CCTA studies, 89.7% included coronary calcium scoring. Most (60.3%) respondents asserted the cost of a study to be 15,000 to 20,000 new Taiwan dollars. Nearly two-fifths (41.2%) of the respondents supported the restriction of subjects for CCTA to those who were high risk group for coronary artery disease or those > 40 years of age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Diagnostic radiologists are primarily in charge of managing CCTA sites in Taiwan. The interdisciplinary cooperation amongst radiologists and cardiologists in reporting CCTA may expedite the development of CCTA. The domestic radiologists are expected to standardize the process, which includes interpreting and reporting CCTA findings.
authors: Department of Radiology, Cathay General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; School of Medicine, Fu-Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
authors: Chin-Ming
authors: CM
authors: Jeng
authors: Department of Radiology, Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Faculty of Medicine, School of Medicine, National Yang Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Ming-Ting
authors: MT
authors: Wu
authors: School of Medicine, Fu-Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City, Taiwan; Medical Research Institute, Cathay General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Pa-Chun
authors: PC
authors: Wang
authors: Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, McMaster University, Ontario, Canada.
authors: Tiffany
authors: T
authors: Chan
authors: Department of Medical Imaging and Intervention, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Department of Medical Imaging and Radiological Science, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan. Electronic address: ylw0518@adm.cgmh.org.tw.
authors: Yung-Liang
authors: YL
authors: Wan
mesh_terms: D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D061330:Multidetector Computed Tomography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan
keywords: CT; CT angiography; coronary artery; questionnaire