First experience with multidetector-CT for the diagnosis of coronary atherosclerosis

Purpose: Multirow-detector-spiral-CT (MSCT) allows for 250 ms effective exp osure time. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the possibilities and limitations of this CT technology for cion enhanced and contrast enhanc ed investigation of the coronary arteries. Methods: Investigation of the coronary arteries without contrast medium for quantification of coronary calcifications was performed in an obese patien t (140 kg) with MSCT and electron beam CT (EBCT). In 56 patients contrast e nhanced CT angiography of the coronary arteries was performed to determine image quality depending on the heart rate. Results: In the obese patient superior image quality could be achieved with MSCT allowing for reliable quantification of coronary calcifications. With MSCT angiography of the coronary arteries good image quality was achieved in patients with a heart rare of 59+/-8 beats per minute. Conclusion: Even if there are limitations in patients with higher heart rat es with an effective exposure time of 250 ms MSCT has clear advantage of im age quality in the assessment of non enhanced and contrast enhanced coronar y arteries.