Assessment of coronary artery calcium by using volumetric 320-row multi-detector computed tomography: comparison of 0.5 mm with 3.0 mm slice reconstructions

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the performance of 0.5 versus 3.0 mm slice reconstructions in depicting coronary calcium with special attention to patients having zero calcium scores at 3.0 mm reconstructions by using computed tomography (CT). Imaging was performed by volumetric 320-detector row CT. Scans of 100 patients with a negative and 100 patients with a positive Agatston score at 3.0 mm reconstructions were consecutively selected. Non-overlapping volume sets with 3.0 and 0.5 mm slice thickness were reconstructed from the same raw data and Agatston and volume scores were obtained. The Wilcoxon signed ranks test was used to determine statistical differences between 3.0 and 0.5 mm calcium scores. Agatston and volume scores obtained at 0.5 mm were significantly higher than at 3.0 mm reconstructions (mean Agatston score: 266 ± 495 vs. 231 ± 461. Mean volume score: 223 ± 399 vs. 206 ± 385, both P < 0.01). In 21% of patients with zero 3.0 mm Agatston scores, a positive Agatston and/or volume score was found at 0.5 mm reconstructions. With volumetric 320-detector row CT, prospective ECG-triggered calcium scoring at 0.5 mm compared to 3.0 mm reconstructions leads to an increase in Agatston and volume scores and small amounts of coronary calcium are earlier depicted. This may be of special interest in patients with zero calcium scores with traditional 3.0 mm measures, where 0.5 mm reconstructions may help in superior depicting or ruling out coronary artery disease.

Very small calcifications are detected and scored in the coronary arteries from small voxel MDCT images using a new automated/calibrated scoring method with statistical and patient specific plaque definitions

“…The summary point of Table 1 is that 23% of our negative Agatston scores had detectable calcifications with small voxel reconstructions and the N-vivo TM method. A recent publication reports manual Agatston scores with 0.5 mm slice thicknesses with similar conclusions to ours [32]. Future work will explore the hypothesis that the current method will improve the negative predictive power to more confidently rule out disease and additional tests.…”

Influence of heart rate on coronary calcium scores: a multi-manufacturer phantom study

“…Third, slice thickness and increment were not the same for all CT systems. Previous studies demonstrated increased CCS for decreased slice thicknesses [20,21]. However, the current study focusses on CCS from clinically used CCS protocols to evaluate the influence of heart rate within each CT system.…”

Coronary artery calcium scoring and its impact on the clinical practice in the era of multidetector CT

“…Other diverse competitions and controversies have been posed between EBCT and MDCT for CACS evaluation [31]. Van der Bijl et al [32] suggested a CACS technique using a 320-channel MDCT, AS, and VS, and reported on the excellent performance of the updated MDCT scanner. In addition, due to a decreased partial-volume averaging effect, depiction of the small calcium region was more accurate in 0.5 mm reconstruction than in traditional 3 mm.…”