National trends among radiologists in reporting coronary artery calcium in non-gated chest computed tomography.
Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is a known risk factor for adverse outcomes in the general population and in patients with coronary artery disease. We performed a survey of United States radiologists to evaluate the trends in reporting the presence or absence of CAC on NCCT examinations. An 11 multiple-choice questionnaire was distributed to members of the American College of Radiology, and 530 members participated in the study. Eighty-seven percent of the analyzed group report the presence of CAC on standard CT scans of the chest, and approximately half them (52 %) use a qualitative modifier. Only 32 % of cardiac imagers were aware of the published data correlating qualitative and quantitative calcium scores on non-gated chest CT examinations compared to 17 % of non-cardiac imagers. We believe that subjective or objective grading of coronary calcified plaque burden on standard chest CT exams is warranted as it may not only help risk-stratify patients, but also may eliminate the need for dedicated CACS in many patients and may be useful in treatment guidance.
Cleveland Clinic Florida, Weston, FL, USA. kirschj@ccf.org.
Jacobo
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8325-3457
J
Kirsch
Cleveland Clinic Florida, Weston, FL, USA.
Felipe
F
Martinez
Cleveland Clinic Florida, Weston, FL, USA.
David
D
Lopez
Cleveland Clinic Florida, Weston, FL, USA.
Gian M
GM
Novaro
Cleveland Clinic Florida, Weston, FL, USA.
Craig R
CR
Asher
D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000639:trends*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends*; D000072177:Radiologists / Q000639:trends*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000639:trends*; D014481:United States; D061205:Vascular Calcification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
Computed tomography; Coronary artery calcium score; Coronary atherosclerosis
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