title: Coronary calcium scoring and computed tomography angiography: current indications, future applications.
abstract: Cardiac computed tomography (CT) has evolved at a rapid pace over the last few years. The improved spatial and temporal resolution allows collection of valuable information about the coronary arteries and atherosclerosis not obtainable by other noninvasive modalities. Coronary artery calcium acquisition is more straightforward, and large datasets are available to help validate its use in risk stratification and prediction of future events. The data from CT angiography has excellent negative predictive value to rule out stenosis, with potential use in plaque characterization to predict plaque vulnerability and perfusion. In addition, a recent novel technique with fractional flow reserve CT (FFRCT) has been shown to predict ischemia-causing lesions noninvasively. The ability of FFRCT to reduce the need for invasive angiography has recently been studied for the third time in a multicenter study, which showed high concordance with the results of invasive fractional flow reserve.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor, UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, California, USA.
authors.forename: Anas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alani
authors.forename: Matthew J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Budoff
mesh_terms: D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D023921:Coronary Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D053805:Fractional Flow Reserve, Myocardial; D006801:Humans; D055414:Myocardial Perfusion Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D061205:Vascular Calcification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology