Computed tomographic attenuation value of coronary atherosclerotic plaques with different tube voltage: an ex vivo study.

Objectives: To compare the diagnostic performance of computed tomographic (CT) attenuation and CT attenuation ratio at different tube voltages for ex vivo plaque characterization.

Materials And Methods: Human coronary arteries were obtained at the time of autopsy in 15 subjects. The coronary arteries were serially cut into 5-mm-long segments and scanned ex vivo using 4 sets of tube voltages and tube currents (80 kV, 660 mA; 100 kV, 500 mA; 120 kV, 400 mA; and 140 kV, 340 mA).