COMPARISON OF THE DIAGNOSTIC-VALUE OF CINEFLUOROSCOPY AND SIMPLE FLUOROSCOPY IN THE DETECTION OF CALCIFICATION IN CORONARY-ARTERIES

Aim: Comparison of the diagnostic value of cinefluoroscopy and simple fluoroscopy in the detection of calcification in coronary arteries. Pa tients and methods: Data were prospectively obtained from 143 patients in whom simple fluoroscopy as well as cinecoronary arteriography were performed. Excluded were patients with a previous myocardial infarcti on, a previous abnormal cinecoronary arteriogram and patients with uns table angina. With the coronary arteriogram as the gold standard, the likelihood ratios (LR) of simple fluoroscopy were determined, mismatch es with cinefluoroscopy were analysed and Kappa, as a measure for inte r-test agreement, was calculated. Results: The LRs with 95% confidence intervals for a positive and negative result were 5.3 (2.6-11.0) and 0.43 (0.28-0.69), respectively. There was a mismatch in 12 (8.3%) pati ents. Kappa with a 95% confidence interval was 0.90 (0.73-1.0). Conclu sions: Both test modalities are almost identical and conclusions with respect of the diagnostic value of cinefluoroscopy also holds for simp le fluoroscopy.