Gated cardiac tomographic visualization of coronary artery calcification.

Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is usually detected by fluoroscopy or on cine films during coronary angiography, but measurement of the calcification is not possible. Gated tomography of the heart provides a full sized image with high contrast spatial resolution of 0.1 mm and low contrast spatial resolution of 0.76 mm. The radiation exposure to the heart is between 1-5% of that experienced with coronary cinefluorography . Measurement of the diameter of calcium deposits is possible and calcium that could be related to arterial stenosis may be identified.