Yuhuan Chen1, Zhijun Hu2, Michelle Li3, Yongjun Jia4, Taiping He1, Zhentang Liu2, Donghong Wei2, Yong Yu5. 1. Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xianyang, Shaanxi 712000, China; Department of Radiology, Affiliated Hospital of Shaanxi Chinese Medicine University, Xianyang 712000, China. 2. Department of Radiology, Chang'an Hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710018, China. 3. Stanford University, 450 Serra Mall, Stanford, CA 94305. 4. Department of Radiology, Affiliated Hospital of Shaanxi Chinese Medicine University, Xianyang 712000, China. 5. Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xianyang, Shaanxi 712000, China; Department of Radiology, Affiliated Hospital of Shaanxi Chinese Medicine University, Xianyang 712000, China. Electronic address: 22434158@qq.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is a marker of atherosclerosis and an independent risk factor for cardiac-related mortality and frequently detected on noncontrast chest CT. We aimed to investigate the reliability and accuracy of determining CAC using noncontrast, nongated chest CT with 256-detector row. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 1318 patients for chest examination were enrolled to undergo both nongated chest CT and dedicated calcium-scoring CT (CSCT) on a 256-detector row CT scanner. The chest CT was scanned in fast-helical mode with 8 cm collimation, 0.28 second rotation speed and pitch 0.992:1 to cover entire chest. CSCT used single prospective ECG-triggered cardiac axial mode with 0.28 second rotation speed covering only the heart. CAC scores (Agatston, mass, and volume) were determined using both image sets and were statistically compared. RESULTS: Sensitivity and specificity of nongated chest CT for determining positive CAC was 94.8% (182/192) and 100%, respectively. The agreement in assessing the quantitative Agatston, volume, and mass scores between the nongated chest CT and CSCT was almost perfect, with the intraclass correlation coefficient values of 0.998, 0.999, and 0.999, respectively. Additionally, there was a good agreement in CAC quantification between the nongated chest CT and dedicated CSCT with small coefficient of variation: mass score (9.0%), volume score (9.5%), and Agatston score (12.6%). CONCLUSION: Nongated chest CT with 256-detector row is a reliable imaging mode for detecting and quantifying calcifications in coronary arteries compared with dedicated calcium-scoring CT.
BACKGROUND:Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is a marker of atherosclerosis and an independent risk factor for cardiac-related mortality and frequently detected on noncontrast chest CT. We aimed to investigate the reliability and accuracy of determining CAC using noncontrast, nongated chest CT with 256-detector row. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 1318 patients for chest examination were enrolled to undergo both nongated chest CT and dedicated calcium-scoring CT (CSCT) on a 256-detector row CT scanner. The chest CT was scanned in fast-helical mode with 8 cm collimation, 0.28 second rotation speed and pitch 0.992:1 to cover entire chest. CSCT used single prospective ECG-triggered cardiac axial mode with 0.28 second rotation speed covering only the heart. CAC scores (Agatston, mass, and volume) were determined using both image sets and were statistically compared. RESULTS: Sensitivity and specificity of nongated chest CT for determining positive CAC was 94.8% (182/192) and 100%, respectively. The agreement in assessing the quantitative Agatston, volume, and mass scores between the nongated chest CT and CSCT was almost perfect, with the intraclass correlation coefficient values of 0.998, 0.999, and 0.999, respectively. Additionally, there was a good agreement in CAC quantification between the nongated chest CT and dedicated CSCT with small coefficient of variation: mass score (9.0%), volume score (9.5%), and Agatston score (12.6%). CONCLUSION: Nongated chest CT with 256-detector row is a reliable imaging mode for detecting and quantifying calcifications in coronary arteries compared with dedicated calcium-scoring CT.