ACTA FAC MED NAISS 2011;28(1):59-62

Case report

UDC: 616.132.2-073.7

Multislice Computed Tomography (MSCT) Application in the Diagnosis of Coronary Artery Disease

Dejan Hristov¹, Marina Deljanin Ilić^1,2, Katarina Marković¹, Sanja Stojanović¹

¹Institute «Niška Banja», Niška Banja, Serbia

²University of Niš, Faculty of Medicine, Serbia


SUMMARY

Coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) is the first non-invasive imaging technique that allows the evaluation of the lumen and walls of the coronary arteries. The sensitivity in defining significant stenosis (>50% caliber reduction) is 93% for the evaluation of single vessels. This is a method for determination of the so-called Calcium score. With a coronary artery calcium (CAC) score >400, the incidence of coronary episodes rises ten-fold. The method can also be used in the evaluation of bypass patency. The first case report shows a patient with irregular heart rhythm and chest pain. After 24h, the holter ECG monitoring and stress echocardiography test, multislice computed tomography (MSCT) examination were performed, excluding thus the coronary disease. The second case report presents a patient who, after coronary artery by-pass grafting, had a positive exercise test. MSCT examination showed the occlusion of three grafts and arteria coronaria dextra. While coronary MSCT is still an emerging technology, in the next decade, undoubtedly, it will become a major cardiovascular imaging option.

Key words: multislice computed tomography, coronary arteries, predictive value