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Identifying Coronary Artery Calcification on Non-gated Computed Tomography Scans
04:40

Identifying Coronary Artery Calcification on Non-gated Computed Tomography Scans

Published on: August 28, 2018

Nonobstructive coronary artery disease as detected by 64-detector row cardiac computed tomographic angiography is

Fay Y Lin1, Danielle Nicolo, Richard B Devereux

  • 1Weill Cornell Medical College and New York Presbyterian Hospital, 520 E 70th Street, K415, New York, NY 10021, USA.

Journal of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography
|March 8, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Non-obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) is linked to increased left ventricular mass (LVM), even without significant blockages. This finding suggests LVM assessment may offer additional insights beyond traditional stenosis evaluation in cardiac computed tomographic angiography (CCTA).

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Radiology
  • Medical Imaging

Background:

  • Cardiac computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) assesses coronary artery disease (CAD) and left ventricular mass (LVM).
  • Increased LVM is a mortality predictor and linked to obstructive CAD.
  • The association between LVM and non-obstructive CAD is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between non-obstructive CAD and LVM.
  • To determine if CCTA can quantify CAD plaque burden and LVM simultaneously.
  • To explore the independent association of LVM with non-obstructive CAD.

Main Methods:

  • Evaluated 212 patients using 64-detector row CCTA.
  • Measured LVM using CCTA and indexed it to body surface area (LVMI) and height.
  • Quantified CAD plaque burden using a segment stenosis score (SSS) based on stenosis severity (0-69%).

Main Results:

  • 58.5% of patients had coronary artery plaque.
  • Segment stenosis score (SSS) was significantly associated with increased LVM, LVMI, and LVM/ht2.7.
  • LVM increased by 2.0 g for every 1-point increase in SSS (p = 0.006).
  • Agatston scores did not add predictive value for LVM beyond SSS.

Conclusions:

  • Non-obstructive CAD identified by CCTA is associated with increased LVM.
  • This association is independent of clinical risk factors and calcium scoring.
  • Further research is needed to determine if adding LVM to stenosis assessment improves CAD risk prediction.
Abstract

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