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Updated: Mar 22, 2026

Identifying Coronary Artery Calcification on Non-gated Computed Tomography Scans
Published on: August 28, 2018
Patient selection essential for computed tomography coronary angiography.
Juuso I Blomster1,2, John O'Rourke3, Preeti Choudhary4
1a The George Institute for Global Health , Sydney , NSW , Australia ;
Radiation exposure from computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) is generally low, but higher doses are linked to increased body mass index (BMI) and heart rate. Careful patient selection is crucial for CTCA imaging.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Cardiovascular Imaging
- Medical Physics
Background:
- Computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) is widely used for diagnosing coronary artery disease, even in asymptomatic individuals.
- Concerns exist regarding the radiation dose associated with CTCA and its risk-benefit profile.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate radiation exposure in a real-world setting of CTCA.
- To identify patient factors influencing radiation dose during CTCA.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective analysis of 586 patients undergoing CTCA at a community radiology practice.
- Collection of demographic data, CTCA scan details, and radiation dose measurements.
Main Results:
- The mean radiation dose was 4.79 mSv.
- Higher body mass index (BMI) and heart rate were significantly associated with increased radiation exposure (p < 0.0001).
- Patients in the highest BMI quartile received 7.32 mSv, compared to 3.01 mSv in the lowest.
Conclusions:
- Radiation exposure from CTCA in this cohort was generally low.
- Patient selection is critical to optimize the benefit-risk ratio.
- Higher BMI and heart rate necessitate careful consideration due to elevated radiation doses.
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