CORONARY-ARTERY CALCIFICATION - CLINICAL-SIGNIFICANCE AND CURRENT METHODS OF DETECTION

Coronary artery disease affects 1,500,000 Americans each year; 500,000 of these will die. The earliest detectable lesion of coronary atheros clerosis is the fatty streak. Later, crescent-shaped lipid plaques occ ur, which may rupture and produce either progressive stenosis or sudde n occlusion with myocardial infarction. Calcium is deposited early in the formation of the atherosclerotic plaque, and calcification can be used as a marker of the atherosclerotic process. Many imaging techniqu es can be used to detect calcification of coronary arteries. The most promising are fluoroscopy, ultrafast CT, and intravascular sonography. Detection of calcification is most valuable in persons less than 40 y ears old in whom modification of risk factors may be important. In add ition, the progression and possible regression of calcification can be used as an indicator of the atherosclerotic process. The absence of c alcification in coronary arteries may diminish the need for further te sting.