CALCIFICATION OF CORONARY-ARTERIES - DETECTION AND QUANTIFICATION WITH DOUBLE-HELIX CT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the accuracy of double-helix computed tomography (CT) in coronary artery calcification detection and quantification. MA TERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred sixty patients with coronary disease (135 men, 25 women; age range, 45-62 years), of whom 138 had obstructi ve (stenosis of > 50% of diameter; n = 129) or mild (< 50% stenosis; n = 9) coronary artery disease (CAD) and 22 had normal coronary arterie s (per angiographic findings), and 56 age-matched healthy control subj ects underwent double-helix CT. RESULTS: Double-helix CT findings indi cated that calcification was significantly more prevalent in patients with CAD (> 83%) than in patients with normal coronary arteries (27%) or in healthy control subjects (34%; P < .01). Sensitivity in detectin g obstructive CAD was high (91%); however, specificity was low (52%) b ecause of calcification in nonobstructive lesions. Comparison of doubl e-helix CT and angiographic findings indicated that double-helix CT wa s 84% accurate with positive and negative predictive values of 89% and 59%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Double-helix CT is a useful noninvasiv e method for detection and quantification of coronary artery calcifica tion.