CT coronary angiography using 16 and 64 simultaneous detector rows: intraindividual comparison

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular imaging
• Medical diagnostics
• Radiology

Background:

• Multislice computed tomography (MSCT) is an evolving noninvasive method for detecting coronary artery stenoses.
• Direct intraindividual comparisons of 16- and 64-slice CT coronary angiography are lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To intraindividually compare the diagnostic performance of 16-slice versus 64-slice MSCT coronary angiography.
• To evaluate image quality and effective radiation dose between the two MSCT systems.

Main Methods:

• 33 patients underwent MSCT coronary angiography with both 16- and 64-slice detector collimation.
• Image quality, vessel visualization, motion artifacts, contrast agent volume, and effective radiation dose were compared.

Main Results:

• 64-slice CT significantly improved visualized coronary vessel length and reduced motion artifacts compared to 16-slice CT.
• Subjective image quality (contrast, continuity, sidebranch depiction) was significantly higher with 64-slice CT.
• 64-slice CT required less contrast agent and shorter breath-hold times but resulted in higher radiation exposure.

Conclusions:

• 64-slice MSCT coronary angiography provides enhanced image quality for coronary artery visualization.
• The 64-slice technique uses less contrast agent but increases radiation exposure compared to 16-slice CT.