ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of measurement of coronary artery calcification score [CAC] in patients with suspected coronary artery disease [CAD] and a normal myocardial perfusion scan. In a prospective study we measured the calcium score of 74 patients [29 m, 45 f, mean age 58.7 [m] and 64.4 [f]] with suspicion of CAD and a normal perfusion scan. In all patients a pharmacological stress scintigraphy and calcium scoring were performed on a T6 Symbia gamma camera [Siemens, Knoxville, USA]. Attnuation correction was performed using a low dose CT. the mean total CAC score was 182.6 +/- 435.7 and ranged from 0-2309. 21/29 of the male patients [72%] and 17/45 of the female patients [38%] had an Agatst on score of >10. There were 9 cases [5m, 4f] with a calcium score of >400 and 3 cases [2m, 1f] with a calcium score >1000. No cardiac event was noted in these cardiac death of a patient with total Agatston score of 278. Seven patients also underwent angiography because of their clinical symptoms, 4 of which [57%] had an elevated Agatston score. Our study showed that calcium score measurement accompanied with SPECT imaging is feasible in routine myocardial perfusion imaging with SPECT/CT machines. Calcium score measurement in patients with normal stress myocardial perfusion scintigraphy, may be useful in risk stratification of the patients. Further prospective studies with larger patient numbers and longer follow-up time are needed to find out the impact of this advantage by hybrid imaging