title: Feasibility of tissue characterization of coronary plaques using 320-detector row computed tomography: comparison with integrated backscatter intravascular ultrasound.
abstract: Recently, a new generation of multi-detector row computed tomography (CT) with 320-detector rows (DR) has become available in the clinical settings. The purpose of the present study was to determine the cutoff values of Hounsfield unit (HU) for discrimination of plaque components by comparing HU of coronary plaques with integrated backscatter intravascular ultrasound (IB-IVUS) serving as a gold standard. Seventy-seven coronary atherosclerotic lesions in 77 patients with angina were visualized by both 320-DR CT (Aquilion One, Toshiba, Japan) and IB-IVUS at the same site. To determine the thresholds for discrimination of plaque components, we compared HU with IB values as a gold standard. Optimal thresholds were determined from receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves analysis. The HU values of lipid pool (n = 115), fibrosis (n = 93), vessel lumen and calcification (n = 73) were 28 ± 19 HU (range -18 to 69 HU), 98 ± 31 HU (44 to 195 HU), 357 ± 65 HU (227 to 534 HU) and 998 ± 236 HU (366 to 1,489 HU), respectively. The thresholds of 56 HU, 210 HU and 490 HU were the most reliable predictors of lipid pool, fibrosis, vessel lumen and calcification, respectively. Lipid volume measured by 320-DR CT was correlated with that measured by IB-IVUS (r = 0.63, p < 0.05), whereas fibrous volume measured by 320-DR CT was not. Lipid volume measured by 320-DR CT was correlated with that measured by IB-IVUS, whereas fibrous volume was not correlated with that measured by IB-IVUS because manual exclusion of the outside of vessel hindered rigorous discrimination between fibrosis and extravascular components.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Gifu University Gradual School of Medicine, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu, 501-1194, Japan.
authors.forename: Shigekiyo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Gifu University Gradual School of Medicine, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu, 501-1194, Japan. masanori@ya2.so-net.ne.jp.
authors.forename: Masanori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kawasaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Kizawa Memorial Hospital, Gifu, Japan.
authors.forename: Shusaku
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miyata
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Kizawa Memorial Hospital, Gifu, Japan.
authors.forename: Keita
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Kizawa Memorial Hospital, Gifu, Japan.
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamaura
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Kizawa Memorial Hospital, Gifu, Japan.
authors.forename: Takahisa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ido
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Kizawa Memorial Hospital, Gifu, Japan.
authors.forename: Takuma
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aoyama
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Gifu University Gradual School of Medicine, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu, 501-1194, Japan.
authors.forename: Hisayoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fujiwara
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Gifu University Gradual School of Medicine, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu, 501-1194, Japan.
authors.forename: Shinya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Minatoguchi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002114:Calcinosis; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods; D023921:Coronary Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012372:ROC Curve; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000379:methods
keywords: Computed tomography; Coronary; Plaque; Tissue