Diagnostic value of multidetector spiral computed tomography in identifying the composition of coronary atherosclerotic plaques / 中华心血管病杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To estimate the feasibility of 16-multidetector spiral computed tomography (16-MDCT) on detecting coronary plaques in comparison with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty-eight patients suspected of coronary heart diseases were examined by 16-MDCT, quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) and IVUS. Coronary stenosis was defined as lumen diameter reduction (DS) >or= 50%. Hounsfield units (HU) were used to determine different types of plaques soft plaque (<or= 50 HU), fibrous plaque (50 - 119 HU) and calcified plaque (>or= 120 HU).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared to QCA, the sensitivity and the specificity for patients with DS >or= 50% were 91.8% (112/122) and 97.8% (556/568) respectively, the positive and negative predictive value were 90.3% (112/124) and 98.2% (556/566) respectively. In 96 plaques evaluated both by 16-MDCT and IVUS, 20 and 21 soft plaques, 37 and 36 fibrous plaques, 39 and 38 calcified plaques were identified by 16-MDCT and IVUS respectively. HU value of soft (11 +/- 36), fibrous (83 +/- 20), and calcified (292 +/- 80) plaques were significantly different (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Noninvasive 16-MDCT could correctly estimate coronary stenosis and coronary plaques compositions.</p>