WEDNESDAY, July 15 (HealthDay News) -- Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) with prospective electrocardiogram triggering provides accurate detection of coronary stenosis with a low radiation dose, according to research published in the July 21 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Gianluca Pontone, M.D., of the University of Milan in Italy, and colleagues analyzed data from 160 patients scheduled for invasive coronary angiography who were randomized to receive MDCT with prospective or retrospective electrocardiogram triggering.
The researchers found the overall evaluability of non-stented segments to be only slightly poorer in the prospective group (96 versus 97 percent), and the evaluability of stented segments was not significantly different between the prospective and retrospective groups (92 versus 94 percent). Image quality score in the prospective and retrospective groups was rated as excellent in 92 and 95 percent of non-stented segments, respectively, and 92 and 93 percent of stents. The prospective group had a lower radiation dose (5.7 versus 20.5 mSv).
"The 64-slice MDCT allows noninvasive visualization of the coronary arteries as an alternative imaging modality to invasive coronary angiography in detection of coronary artery disease. However, radiation exposure is a reason for concern," the authors write. "Cardiac MDCT with prospective electrocardiogram triggering can reduce the radiation exposure with a slight reduction of evaluability and accuracy of noninvasive imaging of coronary arteries and stents."
Abstract
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