title: Integrated non-invasive approach to atherosclerosis with cardiac CT and carotid ultrasound in patients with suspected coronary artery disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to compare the atherosclerotic disease in the coronary and carotid arteries in patients who underwent non-invasive imaging for suspected stable coronary artery disease (CAD).
  
  
  METHODS
  107 patients (64 men, age 59 ± 12) with atypical chest pain underwent cardiac CT (CCT) and carotid ultrasound (US) on the same day. Severity (obstructive or not-obstructive disease), location, shape, and composition of atherosclerotic plaques in the two districts were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients presented normal coronary arteries in 36 % (n = 38), not-obstructive CAD in 36 % (n = 39), and obstructive CAD in 28 % (n = 30), while had normal carotid arteries in 53 % (n = 57), not-obstructive disease in 44 % (n = 47), and obstructive disease in 3 % (n = 3) (p < 0.05). The coronary plaques were located in 7 % at ostial sites, in 29 % at non-ostial sites, and in 64 % at both locations. The carotid plaques were located at the origin of the internal and external carotid arteries in 56 %, at the bifurcation in 20 %, and at both locations in 24 % (p < 0.05). Coronary plaques were calcified in 25 %, non-calcified in 19 %, and mixed in 56 %; carotid plaques were calcified in 8 %, non-calcified in 8 %, and mixed in 84 % of patients (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Atherosclerotic disease presents different imaging findings in the coronary tree and in the carotid district with respect to lesion severity, position along the vessel course, and composition of plaque.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, DIBIMED, University of Palermo, Via del Vespro 127, 90100, Palermo, Italy. ludovicolagrutta@hotmail.it.
authors.forename: Ludovico
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3557-0084
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: La Grutta
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, DIBIMED, University of Palermo, Via del Vespro 127, 90100, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marasà
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, DIBIMED, University of Palermo, Via del Vespro 127, 90100, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Toia
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, DIBIMED, University of Palermo, Via del Vespro 127, 90100, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ajello
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, DIBIMED, University of Palermo, Via del Vespro 127, 90100, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Albano
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Montreal Heart Institute/Universitè de Montreal, Montreal, Canada.
authors.forename: Erica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Maffei
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, DIBIMED, University of Palermo, Via del Vespro 127, 90100, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Emanuele
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Grassedonio
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Novo
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, DIBIMED, University of Palermo, Via del Vespro 127, 90100, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Galia
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, DIBIMED, University of Palermo, Via del Vespro 127, 90100, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Caruso
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Novo
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Montreal Heart Institute/Universitè de Montreal, Montreal, Canada.|Department of Radiology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cademartiri
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, DIBIMED, University of Palermo, Via del Vespro 127, 90100, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Midiri
mesh_terms: D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D055424:Cardiac-Gated Imaging Techniques; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003287:Contrast Media; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D007479:Iopamidol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; C057937:iomeprol; D007479:Iopamidol
keywords: Atherosclerosis; Cardiac CT; Carotid arteries; Coronary artery disease; Doppler ultrasound