[Capabilities of Multidetector Computed Tomography in Assessment of Atherosclerosis of Coronary Arteries]
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Updated: Mar 31, 2026

Identifying Coronary Artery Calcification on Non-gated Computed Tomography Scans
Published on: August 28, 2018
Insights
Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) assesses coronary artery disease by evaluating plaque morphology, stenosis, and calcification. This non-invasive imaging helps predict acute coronary events and manage ischemic heart disease (IHD).
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Radiology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Ischemic heart disease (IHD) presents a high mortality rate, necessitating advanced diagnostic tools.
- Atherosclerotic plaque morphology is a key determinant in IHD progression and acute coronary events.
- Non-invasive assessment of coronary arteries is crucial for predicting IHD outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the capabilities of multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) in evaluating coronary arteries.
- To analyze MDCT's role in assessing atherosclerotic plaque characteristics and stenosis severity.
- To explore MDCT's potential in identifying signs of plaque instability.
Main Methods:
- Review of contemporary literature on MDCT applications in cardiology.
- Analysis of MDCT's ability to visualize coronary artery anatomy and pathology.
- Assessment of MDCT's utility in characterizing atherosclerotic plaques.
Main Results:
- MDCT is the sole non-invasive modality for detailed coronary artery assessment.
- MDCT effectively quantifies coronary artery stenosis and calcification.
- MDCT can identify morphological features of atherosclerotic plaques, including indicators of instability.
Conclusions:
- MDCT offers significant value in the non-invasive diagnosis and risk stratification of IHD.
- MDCT imaging provides critical insights into plaque structure and stability, aiding in the prediction of acute coronary events.
- The findings support MDCT's role in personalized management strategies for patients with IHD.
Abstract:
The prevalence of ischemic heart disease (IHD) as well as high mortality from its exacerbations led to an active search and study of diagnostic methods to predict the possible development of acute coronary events. At the moment, it is proved that the morphological properties of atherosclerotic plaque largely determine the course of IHD. Contemporary multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) is the only non-invasive method which allows to study the state of coronary arteries. In this review we have analyzed capabilities of MDCT in assessing the severity of stenosis and calcification in the coronary arteries, as well as the structure of atherosclerotic plaques, including signs of "instability".
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