Cr. Becker et al., Methods for quantification of coronary artery calcifications with electronbeam and conventional computed tomography, RADIOLOGE, 38(12), 1998, pp. 1006-1011
Purpose: To compare electron beam CT (EBCT) und prospectively ECG gated con
ventional CT for the detection and quantification of coronary artery calcif
ications.
Methods: 42 patients (mean age 62.8+/-8.8 yea rs) were scanned, both with E
BCT a nd ECG gated sequential CT. For quantification, the traditional "tota
l calcium score" (TCS) according to the Agatson method as well as the "volu
metric calcium score" (VCS) as determined with a stand-alone workstation (N
etraMD) was calculated for both modalities.
Results: There was close correlation between EBCT and conventional CT,both
for TCS (r=0.984) as well as for VCS (r=0.986) score values. The median dif
ference was 17% for TCS and 13% for VCS the difference between the two moda
lities was not statistically significant (p=0.44).
Conclusion: EBCT and prospectively ECC triggered conventional CT are equiva
lent for the quantification of coronary artery calcifications. The extent o
f calcifications can be established with both modalities using either TCS o
r VCS score values.