Journal of cardiovascular computed tomography
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J Cardiovasc Comput Tomogr · Mar 2008
Comparative StudyPrognosis by coronary computed tomographic angiography: matched comparison with myocardial perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography.
The diagnostic accuracy of coronary computed tomographic angiography (CTA) is high with few reports noting its ability to stratify risk. The quantity and quality of prognostic evidence with myocardial perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) (MPS) is diverse, with little comparative evidence between methods. The aim of this report was to compare all-cause death rates for 7 CTA subsets, using the Duke prognostic index, compared with percentage of ischemic myocardium by MPS. ⋯ A directly proportional relation was observed between the extent and severity of MPS ischemia and angiographic CAD. High-risk ischemia is more often associated with extensive CAD and high mortality risk. The results from this matched, observational study require additional validation for longer-term predictive models that include major adverse cardiovascular events and diverse patient subsets.
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J Cardiovasc Comput Tomogr · Mar 2008
ReviewCurrent status and future directions in technical developments of cardiac computed tomography.
Labeled as a dying modality in the late 1980s, the remarkable resurgence of computed tomography (CT) was the commercial availability of the helical CT and the multidetector-row CT (MDCT) scanners. The MDCT scanners in particular were responsible for creating new and promising opportunities for imaging the heart and the vascular system in a noninvasive manner. ⋯ Work in progress on the potential of the dual-energy CT, the 256-slice MDCT, and the flat-panel volume CT, suggest the possibility of new and interesting cardiac applications. This review article describes the present status of CT in noninvasive cardiac imaging and highlights the future directions of the technology.