Published in:
01-06-2012 | Advances in Nonnuclear Imaging Technologies
Prognostic value of cardiovascular CT: Is coronary artery calcium screening enough? The added value of CCTA
Authors:
Erick Alexanderson, MD, Nadia Canseco-León, MD, Fernando Iñarra, MD, Aloha Meave, MD, Damini Dey, PhD
Published in:
Journal of Nuclear Cardiology
|
Issue 3/2012
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Abstract
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the primary cause of death in adults in the United States. Only 50% of patients who present with a myocardial infarction have a prior history of CAD. Non-invasive cardiac imaging tests have been developed to diagnose CAD. Current guidelines and systematic reviews have tried to determine the prognostic value of the coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring and the coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) for major adverse cardiovascular events. Several studies support the roles of CCTA and CAC scoring for the diagnosis of CAD in asymptomatic patients. Further studies are needed to confirm the superior role of CCTA over CAC scoring in symptomatic patients.