Usefulness of cinefluoroscopic detection of coronary artery calcification in the diagnostic work-up of coronary artery disease

Aim: To determine in which patients (cine)fluoroscopic detection of coronary artery calcifications is recommended for the diagnosis of coronary artery disease and the consequence of this finding for referral for cinecoronary arteriography. Materials and methods: Data were retrospectively obtained from 778 patients who had been referred for cinecoronary arteriography. Excluded were patients with a previous myocardial infarction, a previous abnormal cinecoronary arteriogram and patients with unstable angina. The discriminating value was assessed with the help of the crude likelihood ratio (LR), as well as the LRs stratified for gender, age and symptomatology. The gold standard was the coronary arteriogram. Furthermore, the post-test probability was estimated using logistic regression to take dependence on age, sex and symptomatology into account. Results: The crude LR of a positive and negative test result, with 95% confidence intervals, was, respectively 5.8 (4.1–8.2) and 0.52 (0.47–0.58), but was dependent on the clinical variables. Estimated probabilities of having coronary artery disease (CAD) varied substantially for a negative as well as a positive test result with the categories of clinical variables. Conclusion: (Cine)fluoroscopy discriminates between patients with and without disease; the test proved to be especially useful in females with atypical angina and patients of both sexes with non-specific chest pain.     

钙化对FFR CT诊断冠状动脉疾病准确性影响的研究

目的研究钙化对冠状动脉CT血管成像(CCTA)测定的血流储备分数(FFR_(CT))诊断冠状动脉疾病准确性的影响。方法回顾性分析行CCTA检查和有创FFR检查的38例病人共50支血管的资料。用Agatston积分法测量50支血管的钙化积分值,以钙化积分值100为阈值,分为A1组(≤100)和A2组(100)。利用c FFR软件进行FFR_(CT)值测定,FFR及FFR_(CT)0.8定义为病变特异性心肌缺血。采用组内相关系数(ICC)计算总体及A1、A2组FFR_(CT)与FFR的一致性。以有创FFR作为参考标准,以血管为分析单位,分别计算总体及A1、A2两组FFR_(CT)的诊断准确度、敏感度、特异度、阳性预测值及阴性预测值,并采用Fisher确切概率法比较2组间的差异。结果总体FFR_(CT)和FFR的ICC系数为0.771(95%CI:0.597~0.870),A1组FFR_(CT)和FFR的ICC为0.819(95%CI:0.633~0.910),A2组FFR_(CT)和FFR的ICC为0.649(95%CI:0.032~0.873)。总体FFR_(CT)诊断敏感度、特异度、准确度、阳性预测值及阴性预测值分别为90.9%、97.4%、96.0%、90.9%、97.4%;A1组和A2组FFR_(CT)诊断敏感度、特异度、准确度、阳性预测值及阴性预测值分别为85.7%、100%、96.9%、100%、96.0%和100%、92.3%、94.1%、80.0%、100%;A1和A2组间诊断效能各指标的差异均无统计学意义(均P0.05)。结论 FFR_(CT)与FFR在冠状动脉狭窄血流评估方面有较好的一致性,研究未显示钙化影响FFR_(CT)的诊断效能。     

国人冠状动脉钙化的电子束CT检测结果及其临床意义

目的了解电子束ＣＴ（ＥＢＣＴ）检测冠状动脉钙化（ＣＡＣ）在国人中的状况；探讨其在临床冠心病诊断和预测中的价值和限度。材料与方法对经ＩｍａｔｒｏｎＣ－１５０型ＥＢＣＴ机检测ＣＡＣ的７１８例受检者进行研究。分析ＣＡＣ率和积分与年龄、性别及临床冠心病发病的关系，评价其对临床冠心病的诊断和预测价值。结果本研究中男性组的ＣＡＣ率为６５．３％，显著高于女性组（４５．５％，Ｐ＜０．００１）；男、女组ＣＡＣ率和积分均随年龄增加而显著增高（Ｐ＜０．００１）；冠心病组ＣＡＣ率与国外报道相仿，而ＣＡＣ积分却明显低于西方人；非冠心病组的ＣＡＣ率、积分均明显低于文献报道（３０～３９岁年龄段除外）；各年龄段冠心病组的ＣＡＣ率和积分均显著高于非冠心病组（Ｐ＜０．０５）。结论ＥＢＣＴ测定的国人ＣＡＣ与文献报道的西方人有一定差别；无ＣＡＣ或其积分较高对冠心病发病危险性预测的价值较大，有ＣＡＣ，但其积分较低时，对冠心病的诊断和预测应结合临床确定。     

Correlation and predictive value of aortic root calcification markers with coronary artery calcification and obstructive coronary artery disease

Objective

To evaluate the correlation between aortic root calcification (ARC) markers and coronary artery calcification (CAC) derived from coronary artery calcium scoring (CACS) and their ability to predict obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed 189 patients (47% male, age 60.3 ± 11.1 years) with an intermediate probability of CAD who underwent clinically indicated CACS and coronary CT angiography (CCTA). ARC markers [aortic root calcium score (ARCS) and volume (ARCV)] were calculated and compared to CAC markers: coronary artery calcium score (CACS), volume (CACV), and mass (CACM). CCTA datasets were visually evaluated for significant CAD (stenosis ≥ 50%) and the ability of ARC markers to predict obstructive CAD was assessed.

Results

ARCS (mean 67.7 ± 189.5) and ARCV (mean 67.3 ± 184.7) showed significant differences between patients with and without CAC (109.4 ± 238.6 vs 9.42 ± 31.4, p < 0.0001; 108.5 ± 232.4 vs 9.9 ± 30.5, p < 0.0001). A strong correlation was found for ARCS and ARCV with CACS, CACM, and CACV (all p < 0.0001). In a multivariate analysis, ARCS (OR 1.09, p = 0.033) and ARCV (OR 1.12, p = 0.046) were independent markers for CAC. Using a receiver-operating characteristics analysis, the AUC to detect severe CAC was 0.71 (p < 0.0001) and 0.71 (p < 0.0001) for ARCS and ARCV, respectively. ARCS (0.67, p < 0.0001) and ARCV (0.68, p < 0.0001) showed discriminatory power for predicting obstructive CAD, yielding sensitivities 61 and 78% and specificities of 62 and 80%, respectively.

Conclusion

ARC markers are associated with and independently predict the presence of CAC and obstructive CAD. Further testing is required in patients with severe ARC and significant CAD in order to reliably obtain these markers from thoracic-CT or X-ray for proper risk classification.

     

单左冠状动脉畸形2例

例1 男,69岁.间断胸痛1月,以夜间为著,体检运动平板试验( ),冠脉CT未见右冠显影(图1),左冠回旋支发出侧支走行于右冠供血区.左冠前降支及回旋支同时发源于左窦.左冠前降支近中段可见多发混合性斑块伴团块状钙化影,管壁不规则增厚,相应层面管腔中重度狭窄,狭窄程度50%～图1 未见右冠显影,左冠回旋支发出侧支走行于右冠供血区图2 右冠缺如,左冠回旋支发出侧支供应右室供血区域70%,远段血流尚通畅.     

Influence of coronary dominance on coronary artery calcification burden

ObjectiveTo evaluate the influence of coronary artery dominance on observed coronary artery calcification burden in outpatients presenting for coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA).MethodsA 12-month retrospective review was performed of all CCTAs at a single institution. Coronary arterial dominance, Agatston score and presence or absence of cardiovascular risk factors including hypertension (HTN), hyperlipidemia (HLD), diabetes and smoking were recorded. Dominance groups were compared in terms of calcium score adjusted for covariates using analysis of covariance based on ranks. Only covariates observed to be significant independent predictors of the relevant outcome were included in each analysis. All statistical tests were conducted at the two-sided 5% significance level.Results1223 individuals, 618 women and 605 men were included, mean age 60 years (24–93 years). Right coronary dominance was observed in 91.7% (n = 1109), left dominance in 8% (n = 98), and codominance in 1.3% (n = 16). The distribution of patients among Agatston score severity categories significantly differed between codominant and left (p = 0.008), and codominant and right (p = 0.022) groups, with higher prevalence of either zero or severe CAC in the codominant patients. There was no significant difference in Agatston score between dominance groups. In the subset of individuals with coronary artery calcification, Agatston score was significantly higher in codominant versus left dominant patients (mean Agatston score 595 ± 520 vs. mean 289 ± 607, respectively; p = 0.049), with a trend towards higher scores in comparison to the right-dominant group (p = 0.093). Significance was not maintained upon adjustment for covariates.ConclusionsWhile the distribution of Agatston score severity categories differed in codominant versus right- or left-dominant patients, there was no significant difference in Agatston score based on coronary dominance pattern in our cohort. Reporting and inclusion of codominant subsets in larger investigations may elucidate whether codominant anatomy is associated with differing risk.     

The use and diagnostic significance of thallium-201 SPECT imaging in a case of anomalous left coronary artery

A 6-year-old female with an anomalous left coronary artery (ALCA) originating from the main pulmonary artery underwent a resting Tl-201 SPECT examination before and after surgical reimplantation. Preoperative Tl-201 SPECT images demonstrated decreased perfusion to the anterior wall and a dilated left ventricle. Post operative Tl-201 SPECT images showed marked improvement of perfusion to the anterior wall as well as a decreased left ventricular size. This is one of the few documented demonstrations of a perfusion defect due to an ALCA in a young child using Tl-201 SPECT imaging methods in conjunction with other tests.     

Ultrasound findings of distal umbilical artery calcification: A case report

Umbilical artery calcification is a rare finding with only a small number of cases reported on radiographs. To date, no cases have been described on ultrasound. Reported cases were limited to the horizontal segment of the medial umbilical ligament. This case report presents a unique case of ultrasound findings of bilateral umbilical artery calcification within the vertical (distal) segment of the medial umbilical ligament.