PURPOSE: To assess the variability and reproducibility of a volumetric calcium score calculated with electron-bean computed tomographic (CT) scans of coronary arteries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two sets of electron-beam CT scans were obtained in patients with coronary calcification (group A) or known risk factors for coronary arterial disease (group B). The second set or scans was obtained after a brief interval (group A, n = 52) or after 1 year with no risk modification (group B, n = 27). Traditional (plaque area and attenuation) and volumetric calcium scores were calculated for each patient and lesion. RESULTS: The median percentage change for individual lesions in group A was 13% for the volumetric and 19% for the traditional score. The overall reduction in error with the volumetric score was 40% (P < .001). The median percentage change for group A patient totals was 9% for the volumetric and 15% for the traditional score (P < .001). In group B patients, the median volumetric score increased by 44% after 1 year. CONCLUSION: The volumetric score showed better reproducibility than the traditional score, and its variability was considerably less than the score increase in untreated patients after 1 year. The reproducibility of the volumetric method makes it useful for assessing the progression of coronary arterial disease on serial electron-beam CT studies.
PURPOSE: To assess the variability and reproducibility of a volumetric calcium score calculated with electron-bean computed tomographic (CT) scans of coronary arteries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two sets of electron-beam CT scans were obtained in patients with coronary calcification (group A) or known risk factors for coronary arterial disease (group B). The second set or scans was obtained after a brief interval (group A, n = 52) or after 1 year with no risk modification (group B, n = 27). Traditional (plaque area and attenuation) and volumetric calcium scores were calculated for each patient and lesion. RESULTS: The median percentage change for individual lesions in group A was 13% for the volumetric and 19% for the traditional score. The overall reduction in error with the volumetric score was 40% (P < .001). The median percentage change for group A patient totals was 9% for the volumetric and 15% for the traditional score (P < .001). In group B patients, the median volumetric score increased by 44% after 1 year. CONCLUSION: The volumetric score showed better reproducibility than the traditional score, and its variability was considerably less than the score increase in untreated patients after 1 year. The reproducibility of the volumetric method makes it useful for assessing the progression of coronary arterial disease on serial electron-beam CT studies.
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: Hideya Yamamoto; Matthew J Budoff; Bin Lu; Junichiro Takasu; Ronald J Oudiz; Songshou Mao Journal: Int J Cardiovasc Imaging Date: 2002-10 Impact factor: 2.357
Authors: Konstantin Nikolaou; Sonja Sagmeister; Andreas Knez; Ernst Klotz; Bernd J Wintersperger; Christoph R Becker; Maximilian F Reiser Journal: Eur Radiol Date: 2003-08-20 Impact factor: 5.315
Authors: Peter M A van Ooijen; Rozemarijn Vliegenthart; Jacqueline C M Witteman; Matthijs Oudkerk Journal: Eur Radiol Date: 2004-09-11 Impact factor: 5.315
Authors: Christoph R Becker; Amal Majeed; Alexander Crispin; Andreas Knez; U Joseph Schoepf; Peter Boekstegers; Gerhard Steinbeck; Maximilian F Reiser Journal: Eur Radiol Date: 2004-11-10 Impact factor: 5.315