title: Coronary CT angiography in managing atherosclerosis.
abstract: Invasive coronary angiography (ICA) was the only method to image coronary arteries for a long time and is still the gold-standard. Technology of noninvasive imaging by coronary computed-tomography angiography (CCTA) has experienced remarkable progress during the last two decades. It is possible to visualize atherosclerotic lesions in the vessel wall in contrast to "lumenography" performed by ICA. Coronary artery disease can be ruled out by CCTA with excellent accuracy. The degree of stenoses is, however, often overestimated which impairs specificity. Atherosclerotic lesions can be characterized as calcified, non-calcified and partially calcified. Calcified plaques are usually quantified using the Agatston-Score. Higher scores are correlated with worse cardiovascular outcome and increased risk of cardiac events. For non-calcified or partially calcified plaques different angiographic findings like positive remodelling, a large necrotic core or spotty calcification more frequently lead to myocardial infarctions. CCTA is an important tool with increasing clinical value for ruling out coronary artery disease or relevant stenoses as well as for advanced risk stratification.
authors: Cardioangiologisches Centrum Bethanien, Im Prüfling 23, D-60389 Frankfurt, Germany. j.eckert@ccb.de.
authors: Joachim
authors: J
authors: Eckert
authors: Cardioangiologisches Centrum Bethanien, Im Prüfling 23, D-60389 Frankfurt, Germany. m.schmidt@ccb.de.
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: Schmidt
authors: Cardioangiologisches Centrum Bethanien, Im Prüfling 23, D-60389 Frankfurt, Germany. a.magedanz@ccb.de.
authors: Annett
authors: A
authors: Magedanz
authors: Cardioangiologisches Centrum Bethanien, Im Prüfling 23, D-60389 Frankfurt, Germany. t.voigtlaender@ccb.de.
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Voigtländer
authors: Cardioangiologisches Centrum Bethanien, Im Prüfling 23, D-60389 Frankfurt, Germany. a.schmermund@ccb.de.
authors: Axel
authors: A
authors: Schmermund
mesh_terms: D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D011379:Prognosis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*