Journal of nuclear cardiology : official publication of the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology
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Controlled Clinical Trial
Clinical effectiveness of coronary computed tomographic angiography in the triage of patients to cardiac catheterization and revascularization after inconclusive stress testing: results of a 2-year prospective trial.
Management of patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) and inconclusive stress imaging test findings may result in invasive coronary angiography (ICA). Coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) may be useful in defining the risk of CAD and adverse outcomes in this patient population, as well as in reducing the need for ICA. ⋯ Observations from this prospective study demonstrate the significant added diagnostic value and prognostic potential of CCTA in patients with suspected CAD and either inconclusive or nondiagnostic stress test results in real-world settings. Normal CCTA results are associated with excellent intermediate-term prognosis in this clinical subset, and invasive angiography can be safely avoided in the majority of these patients when the results of CCTA are available.