Multidetector computed tomography-guided treatment strategy in patients with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndromes: a pilot study

Patients with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and evidence of myocardial ischaemia are scheduled for coronary angiography (CAG). In most patients CAG remains a single diagnostic procedure only. A prospective study was performed to evaluate whether 16-slice multidetector CT (MDCT) could predict treatment of the patients and to determine how many CAGs could have been prevented by MDCT scanning prior to CAG. Twenty-two patients with ACS were scanned prior to CAG. Based on MDCT data, a fictive treatment was proposed and compared to CAG-based treatment. Excellent accuracy was observed to detect significant stenoses using MDCT (sensitivity 94%, specificity 96%). In 45%, no PCI was performed during CAG, because of the absence of significant coronary artery disease (27%) or severe coronary artery disease, demanding CABG (18%). MDCT predicted correct treatment in 86%. By using MDCT data, 32% of the CAGs could have been prevented.