Distribution of Coronary Calcium Score in Healthy Middle-aged Korean

PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence and degree of CAC (coronary artery calcification) in appearently healthy middle-aged Koreans, and the relation of CAC to risk factors for atherosclerosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 289 apparently healthy personnel at Yonsei University (male: 170, female: 119, age: mean(SD=54.9 +/-7.1 years) underwent EBT (electron bean tomography). The risk factors for atherosclerosis, which included diabetes mellitus, hypertension, smoking, a family history of precocious onset, obesity, hyperlipidemia, and high intraperitoneal fat, were scrutinized. One hundred and sixty-eight subjects (58 % ) had at least one risk factor. The CAC score was calculated for all subjects and for each coronary artery separately and was then analyzed by age and sex and in relation to the risk factors. RESULTS: The prevalence of CAC was 40% in men and 18.5% in women (mean score: 29.7 vs. 9.9). The number of individuals who had one, two, or more than two risk factors was 141, 41, and 19, respectively. The number of risk factors and the prevalence and score of CAC were significantly correlated (p=0.01, 0.02 respectively). The number of individuals with no risk factor, with without CAC, was 58(20.1%) and 103(35.6% ) , respectively, while the number with some risk factor, with or without CAC, was 38(13.1%) and 90(31.1%), respectively. The CAC score was significantly higher in the presence of hypertension, low HDL, or obesity (p=0.001, 0.049, and 0.068, respectively). Smoking appeared to have a borderline effect on the calcium score (p=0.118). CONCLUSION: This study should provide useful information for interpreting CAC scores and establishing a treatment strategy for Koreans. The comparison of our results with other studies will enable a better understanding of the process and risk factors of atherosclerosis in Koreans.

Diagnosis of Pancreatic Tumors: Comparison of MR Pancreatograp hy (MRP )and Endoscopic Retrograde Pancreatography(ERP)

PURPOSE: Magnetic resonance pancreatography(MRP) is a non-invasive imaging technique for visualization of the pancreatic duct system, and is similar to those obtained by means of endoscopic retrograde pancreatography (ERP). To determine the role of MRP in the diagnosis of pancreatic tumors, the diagnostic confidence and imaginal difference of MRP and ERP were compared. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty patients (13 male and 7 female, mean age 59 years) with pancreatic tumors underwent MRP and ERP. The former involved the use of a single shot fast spinecho sequence on a 1.5T system. All images were retrospectively reviewed by a radiologist and a gastroenterologist, working together. Both MRP and ERP were compared for separate visualization of the head, body and tail portion of the pancreatic duct, and scored as excellent (4), good (3), fair (2), poor (1), or no visualization (0). In addition, the overall diagnostic confidence of both modalities was graded subjectively from non-diagnoses (0) to definite information (4). The final diagnoses derived from surgical findings (n=9) or imaging findings and clinical follow-up (n=7) were as follows : pancreatic cancer (n=12), mucin-producing pancreatic cancer (n=2), mucinous ductectatic tumor (n=4), serous cystadenoma (n=2). To assess the statistical significance of difference, the paired t-test was used. RESULTS: Mean scores of visualization of the pancreatic duct by MRP and ERP were 2.91 and 3.15 in the pancreatic head (p=NS), 3.11 and 2.18 in the pancreatic body (p=NS), and 3.07 and 1.09 in the pancreatic tail (p<0.01). The mean score of diagnostic confidence was 4.03 for MRP and 2.51 for ERP, a statistically significant difference (p <0.05). In 11 patients with obstruction of the pancreatic duct due to malignant lesions, MRP visualized the duct both proximally and distally to the site of obstruction, while ERP visualized only the distal duct to the site of obstruction. MRP was also better at defining the extent of tumor by visualization of surrounding pancreatic parenchyma. In two cases of serous cystadenoma with lack of communication between the pancreatic duct and cystic neoplasm, MRP depicted the lesion clearly whereas ERP showed no information. CONCLUSION: MRP is better than ERP at visualizing the of pancreatic duct proximal to obstruction, assessment of tumoral extent, and diagnosis of a cystic neoplasm which does not communicate with the pancreatic duct.