Imaging Accuracy for Stenoses Unaffected by Heart Rate

Does not affect diagnostic accuracy of dual-source computed tomography

MONDAY, Dec. 17 (HealthDay News) -- Heart rate has no significant effect on the accuracy of dual-source computed tomography (DSCT) coronary angiography in diagnosing coronary artery stenosis, researchers report in the Dec. 18/25 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Ulrike Ropers, M.D., from the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg in Germany, and colleagues examined whether heart rate affected the quality and diagnostic accuracy of DSCT coronary angiography in 100 patients.

The researchers found that of the 44 patients with heart rates of 65 beats/min or more, 92 percent of coronary segments and 93 percent of patients were considered evaluable. Of the 56 patients with heart rates less than 65 beats/min, all coronary segments and patients were considered evaluable. The overall diagnostic accuracy was 91 percent for patients with heart rates of 65 beats/min or more and 86 percent for patients with heart rates less than 65 beats/min, a difference that was not statistically significant.

"In 100 patients studied without beta-blocker pre-medication, DSCT demonstrated slightly lower per-segment evaluability for high heart rates but no decrease in diagnostic accuracy for the detection of coronary artery stenoses," Ropers and colleagues conclude.

Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Related Stories

No stories found.
logo
www.healthday.com