EKG-triggered CT data acquisition to reduce variability in coronary arterial calcium score

To test the hypothesis that computed tomographic (CT) scanning during optimal electrocardiographic (EKG) triggering can minimize image motion artifact and reduce interexamination variation of coronary arterial calcification (CAC) score at electron-beam CT.

Two hundred patients underwent electron-beam CT once and again 5 minutes later to evaluate interexamination variability of CAC score. Group 1 (104 patients) underwent scanning with use of an optimal EKG-triggering protocol (EKG triggering performed individually at the time of least coronary arterial motion during the cardiac cycle); group 2 (96 patients) underwent scanning with use of conventional 80% R-R interval triggering (the most common protocol with the electron-beam CT scanner). Interexamination, intraobserver, and interobserver variations of CAC measurements were compared between groups by using unpaired t tests for both Agatston and volumetric scores (in square millimeters).

Coronary arterial motion artifacts were found in 26% (27 of 104) versus 80% (77 of 96) of patients in groups 1 and 2, respectively (P <.0001). Intraobserver, interobserver, and interexamination variabilities in volumetric score were derived, with values of 1.2%, 9.2%, and 15.9% in group 1 and 2.1%, 11.3%, and 25.9% in group 2, respectively. Interexamination variabilities in both Agatston and volumetric score were significantly reduced with individualized EKG triggering, as compared with conventional triggering (P <.05), but intra- and interobserver variabilities were not (P >.05).

Optimal EKG triggering improves the reproducibility of CAC measurement by reducing coronary arterial motion artifacts.