Curved multiplanar reconstructions for the evaluation of contrast-enhanced electron beam CT of the coronary arteries

OBJECTIVE, We investigated the applicability of curved multiplanar reconstructions for the evaluation of contrast-enhanced electron beam CT scans of the coronary arteries. SUBJECTS AND METHODS, Thirty-two patients (43-72 years old, mean age, 58 years old) underwent electron beam CT. After injection of TV contrast medium, 40 axial cross sections of the heart were acquired, triggered to the ECG during breath-hold (3-mm slice thickness, l-mm overlap). Curved multiplanar reconstructions were obtained separately for each coronary artery. The reconstructions were independently evaluated by two investigators for the presence of high-grade stenoses and occlusions. The results were then compared with coronary angiography results, of which the two investigators had been unaware. RESULTS, Because of degraded image quality, 15 (12%) of the 128 vessels (left main, left anterior descending, left circumflex, and right coronary arteries in 32 patients) were excluded from evaluation. In the remaining 113 vessels, 16 (89%) of 18 high-grade stenoses and occlusions were correctly detected (89% sensitivity). Absence of significant stenosis was correctly detected in 87 (92%) of 95 vessels (92% specificity). The negative and positive predictive values were 98% and 67%, respectively. CONCLUSION, Curved multiplanar reconstructions are useful in the evaluation of contrast-enhanced electron beam CT scans of coronary arteries.