PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to correlate left main (LM) coronary artery dimensions with the presence of atherosclerosis by multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT) coronary angiography (CA) and to assess coronary atherosclerotic plaques with a semiquantitative method. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-two consecutive patients (41 men, mean age 60+/-11) with suspected coronary artery disease underwent 64-MDCT coronary angiography. LM dimensions (length, ostial and bifurcation diameters), quantitative [location, Hounsfield unit (HU) attenuation] and qualitative (composition, shape) analysis of plaques within the LM were performed. All patients underwent conventional CA. RESULTS: Thirty patients (mean age 55+/-10) without plaques in the LM presented the following average dimensions: length 10.6+/-6.1 mm, ostial diameter 5.5+/-0.7 mm, bifurcation diameter 4.9+/-0.9 mm. LM plaques (n=36) were detected in 32 patients (mean age 64+/-10) with the following LM average dimensions: length 11.3+/-4.0 mm, ostial diameter 6.0+/-1.2 mm and bifurcation diameter 6.0+/-1.2 mm. Plaques were calcified (40%, mean attenuation 742+/-191 HU), mixed (43%, mean attenuation 387+/-94 HU) or noncalcified (17%, mean attenuation 56+/-14 HU) and were frequently eccentric (77%). Age was significantly different in the two groups (p<0.05). LM diameters of patients with plaques were improved (p<0.05). A moderate correlation was found between the LM bifurcation diameter and the corresponding plaque area (r=0.56). Significant conventional CA lesions of the LM were present in just three patients (5%). CONCLUSIONS: Increased LM diameters are associated with the presence of atherosclerosis. MDCT CA indicates relevant features of LM atherosclerotic burden, as rupture and subsequent thrombosis of vulnerable plaques may develop from lesions characterised as nonsignificant at conventional CA.

Cademartiri, F., La Grutta, L., Malagò, R., Alberghina, F., Palumbo, A., Belgrano, M., et al. (2009). Assessment of left main coronary artery atherosclerotic burden using 64-slice CT coronary angiography: correlation between dimensions and presence of plaques. LA RADIOLOGIA MEDICA, 2009-04.

Assessment of left main coronary artery atherosclerotic burden using 64-slice CT coronary angiography: correlation between dimensions and presence of plaques

LA GRUTTA, Ludovico;RUNZA, Giuseppe;MIDIRI, Massimo
2009-01-01

Abstract

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to correlate left main (LM) coronary artery dimensions with the presence of atherosclerosis by multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT) coronary angiography (CA) and to assess coronary atherosclerotic plaques with a semiquantitative method. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-two consecutive patients (41 men, mean age 60+/-11) with suspected coronary artery disease underwent 64-MDCT coronary angiography. LM dimensions (length, ostial and bifurcation diameters), quantitative [location, Hounsfield unit (HU) attenuation] and qualitative (composition, shape) analysis of plaques within the LM were performed. All patients underwent conventional CA. RESULTS: Thirty patients (mean age 55+/-10) without plaques in the LM presented the following average dimensions: length 10.6+/-6.1 mm, ostial diameter 5.5+/-0.7 mm, bifurcation diameter 4.9+/-0.9 mm. LM plaques (n=36) were detected in 32 patients (mean age 64+/-10) with the following LM average dimensions: length 11.3+/-4.0 mm, ostial diameter 6.0+/-1.2 mm and bifurcation diameter 6.0+/-1.2 mm. Plaques were calcified (40%, mean attenuation 742+/-191 HU), mixed (43%, mean attenuation 387+/-94 HU) or noncalcified (17%, mean attenuation 56+/-14 HU) and were frequently eccentric (77%). Age was significantly different in the two groups (p<0.05). LM diameters of patients with plaques were improved (p<0.05). A moderate correlation was found between the LM bifurcation diameter and the corresponding plaque area (r=0.56). Significant conventional CA lesions of the LM were present in just three patients (5%). CONCLUSIONS: Increased LM diameters are associated with the presence of atherosclerosis. MDCT CA indicates relevant features of LM atherosclerotic burden, as rupture and subsequent thrombosis of vulnerable plaques may develop from lesions characterised as nonsignificant at conventional CA.
2009
Cademartiri, F., La Grutta, L., Malagò, R., Alberghina, F., Palumbo, A., Belgrano, M., et al. (2009). Assessment of left main coronary artery atherosclerotic burden using 64-slice CT coronary angiography: correlation between dimensions and presence of plaques. LA RADIOLOGIA MEDICA, 2009-04.
File in questo prodotto:
Non ci sono file associati a questo prodotto.

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10447/46911
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 12
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 12
social impact