PURPOSE: To identify a minimum definition of coronary artery calcification (CAC) at electron beam computed tomography (CT) that would give repeatable results and be accurate as a marker for coronary artery disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Hyperattenuating (> 130 HU) foci 0.69-3.09 mm2 in area were evaluated for 256 subjects who underwent two sequential electron beam CT examinations to determine the percentage of hyperattenuating foci seen on a first examination that were seen again on a second examination. Accuracies of varying minimum definitions of CAC were determined in 160 subjects who underwent electron beam CT and coronary arteriography. RESULTS: Hyperattenuating foci more than 2 mm2 in area were seen again at a second examination in more than 50% of cases (P < .0001). At this minimum definition of CAC, the sensitivity and specificity for identifying any angiographically defined coronary artery disease were 82% and 85%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The 2-mm2-area definition of CAC was reliable and provided an accurate indication of coronary artery disease.
PURPOSE: To identify a minimum definition of coronary artery calcification (CAC) at electron beam computed tomography (CT) that would give repeatable results and be accurate as a marker for coronary artery disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Hyperattenuating (> 130 HU) foci 0.69-3.09 mm2 in area were evaluated for 256 subjects who underwent two sequential electron beam CT examinations to determine the percentage of hyperattenuating foci seen on a first examination that were seen again on a second examination. Accuracies of varying minimum definitions of CAC were determined in 160 subjects who underwent electron beam CT and coronary arteriography. RESULTS: Hyperattenuating foci more than 2 mm2 in area were seen again at a second examination in more than 50% of cases (P < .0001). At this minimum definition of CAC, the sensitivity and specificity for identifying any angiographically defined coronary artery disease were 82% and 85%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The 2-mm2-area definition of CAC was reliable and provided an accurate indication of coronary artery disease.
Authors: J J Carr; J A Danitschek; D C Goff; J R Crouse; R D'Agostino; M Y Chen; G L Burke Journal: Int J Cardiovasc Imaging Date: 2001-06 Impact factor: 2.357
Authors: Tom D Newton; Hatem Mehrez; Kelly Wong; Ravi Menezes; Bernd J Wintersperger; Andrew Crean; Elsie Nguyen; Narinder Paul Journal: Eur Radiol Date: 2011-06-03 Impact factor: 5.315
Authors: S Möhlenkamp; T R Behrenbeck; H Pump; P Kriener; S Lange; D Baumgart; R M Seibel; D H Grönemeyer; R Erbel Journal: Int J Cardiovasc Imaging Date: 2001-04 Impact factor: 2.357
Authors: Andreas Knez; Christoph Becker; Alexander Becker; Alexander Leber; Carl White; Maximilian Reiser; Gerhard Steinbeck Journal: Int J Cardiovasc Imaging Date: 2002-08 Impact factor: 2.357