RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 New imaging techniques for diagnosing coronary artery disease
JF Canadian Medical Association Journal
JO CMAJ
FD Canadian Medical Association
SP 487
OP 495
DO 10.1503/cmaj.050925
VO 174
IS 4
A1 Escolar, Esteban
A1 Weigold, Guy
A1 Fuisz, Anthon
A1 Weissman, Neil J.
YR 2006
UL http://www.cmaj.ca/content/174/4/487.abstract
AB New tomographic cardiovascular imaging tests, such as intravascular ultrasonography (IVUS), coronary computed tomography (CT) angiography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), can be used to assess atherosclerotic plaques for the characterization and early staging of coronary artery disease (CAD). Although IVUS images have very high resolution capable of revealing very early preclinical CAD, it is an invasive technique used clinically only in conjunction with a coronary intervention. Multiple-slice coronary CT angiography, which is noninvasive, shows promise as a diagnostic method for CAD. New 64-slice cardiac CT technology has high accuracy for the detection of lesions obstructing more than 50% of the lumen, with sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values all better than 90% in patients without known CAD. Cardiac MRI is also improving accuracy in coronary plaque detection and offers a better opportunity for plaque characterization. With further advances in tomographic imaging of coronary atheromas, the goal will be to detect plaques earlier in the development of CAD and to characterize the plaques most likely to generate a clinical event.