OBJECTIVES: We sought to assess the agreement of coronary artery calcium score in nonenhanced and contrast-enhanced multislice-spiral computed tomography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Vessel phantoms and 36 patients underwent nonenhanced and contrast-enhanced cardiac multislice-spiral computed tomography (Sensation 16; Siemens, Germany). Reconstruction-parameters: slice thickness 3 mm, increment 2 mm, kernels B35f and B30f. The Agatston score, calcium mass, and number of lesions were calculated. Images were scored using detection thresholds of 130 Hounsfield units (HU) and 350 HU. Based on the Agatston score, risk stratification was performed. RESULTS: In the phantom and patient study, altering the threshold from 130 to 350 HU led to a significant decrease in the mean Agatston score (phantom: 54.6%, patients: 66.7%) and calcium mass (33.0%, 47.0%) (B35f). Contrast-enhanced studies (threshold: 350 HU) showed an increase of the mean Agatston score (71.0%, 20.7%) and calcium mass (81.0%, 16.0%) when compared with nonenhanced scans (threshold: 350 HU). A total of 57% of all patients were assigned to different risk groups. CONCLUSIONS: Contrast material may simulate calcification; therefore, calculation of the coronary calcium score from contrast-enhanced images is not reliable.
OBJECTIVES: We sought to assess the agreement of coronary artery calcium score in nonenhanced and contrast-enhanced multislice-spiral computed tomography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Vessel phantoms and 36 patients underwent nonenhanced and contrast-enhanced cardiac multislice-spiral computed tomography (Sensation 16; Siemens, Germany). Reconstruction-parameters: slice thickness 3 mm, increment 2 mm, kernels B35f and B30f. The Agatston score, calcium mass, and number of lesions were calculated. Images were scored using detection thresholds of 130 Hounsfield units (HU) and 350 HU. Based on the Agatston score, risk stratification was performed. RESULTS: In the phantom and patient study, altering the threshold from 130 to 350 HU led to a significant decrease in the mean Agatston score (phantom: 54.6%, patients: 66.7%) and calcium mass (33.0%, 47.0%) (B35f). Contrast-enhanced studies (threshold: 350 HU) showed an increase of the mean Agatston score (71.0%, 20.7%) and calcium mass (81.0%, 16.0%) when compared with nonenhanced scans (threshold: 350 HU). A total of 57% of all patients were assigned to different risk groups. CONCLUSIONS: Contrast material may simulate calcification; therefore, calculation of the coronary calcium score from contrast-enhanced images is not reliable.
Authors: Wehab Ahmed; Michiel A de Graaf; Alexander Broersen; Pieter H Kitslaar; Elco Oost; Jouke Dijkstra; Jeroen J Bax; Johan H C Reiber; Arthur J Scholte Journal: Int J Cardiovasc Imaging Date: 2014-08-27 Impact factor: 2.357
Authors: Georg Mühlenbruch; Ernst Klotz; Joachim E Wildberger; Ralf Koos; Marco Das; Matthias Niethammer; Christian Hohl; Dagmar Honnef; Christoph Thomas; Rolf W Günther; Andreas H Mahnken Journal: Eur Radiol Date: 2006-07-04 Impact factor: 5.315
Authors: Ullrich Ebersberger; Dov Eilot; Roman Goldenberg; Alon Lev; J Reid Spears; Garrett W Rowe; Nicholas Y Gallagher; William T Halligan; Philipp Blanke; Marcus R Makowski; Aleksander W Krazinski; Justin R Silverman; Fabian Bamberg; Alexander W Leber; Ellen Hoffmann; U Joseph Schoepf Journal: Eur Radiol Date: 2012-09-16 Impact factor: 5.315
Authors: Didem Yamak; William Pavlicek; Thomas Boltz; Prasad M Panse; David Frakes; Metin Akay Journal: J Appl Clin Med Phys Date: 2013-05-06 Impact factor: 2.102