Purpose
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, with coronary artery disease (CAD) being responsible for a big part of all such death.(1)
The identification of asymptomatic individuals at greater risk of experiencing future cardiovascular events is crucial for the implementation of preventive strategies.
The coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring plays an important role in cardiovascular risk stratification, showing a considerable association with the long-term incidence of major cardiovascular events(2), current AHA guidelines(3) using CAC scoring to guide statin therapy.
Because CAC scoring is...
Methods and materials
A retrospective study was performed using a convenience sample of 60 individuals who underwent a non-contrast, non-ECG gated thoracic CT examination in 2019.
The average age of the sample was 61.5 (+/- 13) years with a male to female ratio of 1.5.
Methods:
Using raw data from the CT acquisition obtained in inspiratory breath-hold (64 slice Siemens Somatom Definition AS), supplementary 16 cm heart-centered reconstructions were made, covering the thorax from the pulmonary artery trunk to the base of the heart, with a slice thickness...
Results
Inter- and intra-observer variability: We found no statistically significant inter-observer difference between median estimated values, nor between the estimated and actual score (p>0.05).
A good, positive correlation (r=0.62 and r=0.73) was found between estimated and actual score, with placement of the patient in the appropriate risk interval in 55, respectively 82% of the cases for the experienced and 51 (76%) for the inexperienced reader.
Readers reported identical risk intervals in 82% of cases and had 100% concordance with actual score for 0 AU. However, when...
Conclusion
Therefore, if the estimated visually calcium proven almost the same results as the calculated calcium score, we can assume that incorporating it into the noncontrast chest examination reports, would be an upgrading realisation of our day by day practice.
Developing a CT scanner imaging atlas, structured on the risk classes (0 UH, 0-100 UH, 100-400 UH, >400 UH), could enforce the applicability of estimated visually calcium score.
In conclusion, these results showed that the CAC can be visually assessed from non-gated CT examinations, with good...
Personal information and conflict of interest
A. N. Ancau; Targu Mures/RO - nothing to disclose M. Pop; Targu Mures/RO - nothing to disclose R.-B. Gagyi; Targu Mures/RO - nothing to disclose I. P. Simu; Tg.Mures/RO - nothing to disclose
References
1.Nasir K, Clouse M. Role of nonenhanced multidetector CT coronary artery calcium testing in asymptomatic and symptomatic individuals. Radiology. 2012 Sep;264(3):637-49.
2.Neves PO, Andrade J, Monção H. Coronary artery calcium score: current status. Radiol Bras. 2017;50(3): 182–189.
3.Grundy SM et al, Guideline on the Management of Blood Cholesterol: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines, Circulation. 2019 Jun 18;139(25): e1082-e114
4.Einstein AJ, Johnson LL, Bokhari S, et al. Agreement of visual estimation of coronary artery calcium...
