Methods for quantification of coronary artery calcifications with electronbeam and conventional computed tomography

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.