AIMS: To assess the prevalence of a normal multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) in patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) and to relate these observations to clinical presentation and pre-test likelihood of CAD. METHODS AND RESULTS: In total, 340 consecutive patients (182 men, 55 +/- 12 years) without a history of CAD who were referred for MSCT angiography were included in the study. Based on patient characteristics and the referral reason for MSCT angiography, patients were classified as having a low, intermediate, or high pre-test likelihood of CAD. Patients were evaluated for the presence of coronary artery calcium as well as the presence of atherosclerosis. Overall, 157 (46%) patients did not have coronary artery calcium and 133 (40%) patients had a completely normal MSCT angiogram. In 58% of the patients with low pre-test likelihood, no coronary atherosclerosis was observed when compared with 33 and 17% of the patients with intermediate and high pre-test likelihood, respectively. CONCLUSION: MSCT ruled out coronary atherosclerosis in 40-46% of patients without known CAD who were referred for MSCT. Accordingly, in patients with low-to-intermediate pre-test likelihood, MSCT may be an attractive modality to exclude coronary atherosclerosis and may prevent unnecessary additional functional testing or invasive angiography.
AIMS: To assess the prevalence of a normal multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) in patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) and to relate these observations to clinical presentation and pre-test likelihood of CAD. METHODS AND RESULTS: In total, 340 consecutive patients (182 men, 55 +/- 12 years) without a history of CAD who were referred for MSCT angiography were included in the study. Based on patient characteristics and the referral reason for MSCT angiography, patients were classified as having a low, intermediate, or high pre-test likelihood of CAD. Patients were evaluated for the presence of coronary artery calcium as well as the presence of atherosclerosis. Overall, 157 (46%) patients did not have coronary artery calcium and 133 (40%) patients had a completely normal MSCT angiogram. In 58% of the patients with low pre-test likelihood, no coronary atherosclerosis was observed when compared with 33 and 17% of the patients with intermediate and high pre-test likelihood, respectively. CONCLUSION: MSCT ruled out coronary atherosclerosis in 40-46% of patients without known CAD who were referred for MSCT. Accordingly, in patients with low-to-intermediate pre-test likelihood, MSCT may be an attractive modality to exclude coronary atherosclerosis and may prevent unnecessary additional functional testing or invasive angiography.
Authors: J G J Groothuis; A M Beek; M R Meijerink; S L Brinckman; M B M Hofman; A C van Rossum Journal: Neth Heart J Date: 2010-05 Impact factor: 2.380
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Authors: Ibrahim Danad; Pieter G Raijmakers; Yolande E Appelman; Hendrik J Harms; Stefan de Haan; Koen M Marques; Cornelis van Kuijk; Cornelis P Allaart; Otto S Hoekstra; Adriaan A Lammertsma; Mark Lubberink; Albert C van Rossum; Paul Knaapen Journal: J Nucl Cardiol Date: 2011-11-11 Impact factor: 5.952
Authors: Fleur R de Graaf; Joëlla E van Velzen; Stephanie M de Boer; Jacob M van Werkhoven; Lucia J Kroft; Albert de Roos; Allard Sieders; Greetje J de Grooth; J Wouter Jukema; Joanne D Schuijf; Jeroen J Bax; Martin J Schalij; Ernst E van der Wall Journal: Int J Cardiovasc Imaging Date: 2012-05-11 Impact factor: 2.357