Rationale And Objectives: Although intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) is the current gold standard for plaque characterization, noninvasive coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) requires further evaluation. The ability to detect plaque morphology by CCTA remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of CCTA for plaque detection and morphology.
Materials And Methods: Thirty-one patients underwent cardiac catheterization with IVUS and CCTA. The presence of plaque was evaluated by both modalities in nonocclusive segments (<50% stenosis) of the left anterior descending artery, left circumflex artery, and right coronary artery. Plaque morphology was classified as (1) normal, (2) soft or fibrous, (3) fibrocalcific, or (4) calcific. Results by IVUS and CCTA were compared blindly on a segment-to-segment basis with subgroup analysis based on CCTA tube voltage.
Results: Among the 31 patients (mean age 56.2 ± 8.6 years, 27% female), 152 segments were analyzed. Of these segments, 42% were in the left anterior descending artery, 32% were in the left circumflex artery, and 26% were in the right coronary artery. Plaque morphology by IVUS identified 103 segments as fibrous (68%), 31 as fibrocalcific (20%), and 6 as calcific (4.0%); 12 segments were normal (8.0%). To evaluate for the presence of plaque, CCTA had an overall sensitivity and specificity of 99% and 75%, respectively. In patients who underwent CCTA with a tube voltage of 100 kV, both sensitivity and specificity were 100%. The sensitivity and specificity of CCTA to identify plaque as calcified (fibrocalcific or calcific) vs noncalcified (soft or fibrous) were 87% and 96%, respectively. Overall, the accuracy of CCTA to detect the presence of plaque was 97%; the accuracy to detect plaque calcification was 94%.
Conclusions: CCTA offers excellent sensitivity and accuracy for plaque detection and morphology characterization in nonocclusive coronary segments. In addition, diagnostic accuracy is preserved with a reduced tube voltage protocol.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.acra.2017.03.001 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Macrophage-based pathogenesis and theranostics of vulnerable plaques.
Theranostics
January 2025
Institute of Biomedical Engineering, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Vulnerable plaques, which are high-risk features of atherosclerosis, constitute critical elements in the disease's progression due to their formation and rupture. Macrophages and macrophage-derived foam cells are pivotal in inducing vulnerability within atherosclerotic plaques. Thus, understanding macrophage contributions to vulnerable plaques is essential for advancing the comprehension of atherosclerosis and devising novel therapeutic and diagnostic strategies.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIdentification of critical endoplasmic reticulum stress-related genes in advanced atherosclerotic plaque.
Sci Rep
January 2025
Department of Cardiology, Second Norman Bethune Hospital of Jilin University, No. 218 Ziqiang Street, Changchun, China.
Atherosclerosis (AS) is the principal pathological cause of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases. Chronic endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) has been implicated in AS aetiopathogenesis, but the underlying molecular interactions remain unclear. This study aims to identify the molecular mechanisms of ERS in AS pathogenesis to inform innovative diagnostic approaches and therapeutic targets for managing AS.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSingle-cell analysis identifies the CNP/GC-B/cGMP axis as marker and regulator of modulated VSMCs in atherosclerosis.
Nat Commun
January 2025
Interfakultäres Institut für Biochemie, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
A balanced activity of cGMP signaling contributes to the maintenance of cardiovascular homeostasis. Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) can generate cGMP via three ligand-activated guanylyl cyclases, the NO-sensitive guanylyl cyclase, the atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP)-activated GC-A, and the C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP)-stimulated GC-B. Here, we study natriuretic peptide signaling in murine VSMCs and atherosclerotic lesions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInhaled xenon modulates microglia and ameliorates disease in mouse models of amyloidosis and tauopathy.
Sci Transl Med
January 2025
Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder. Antiamyloid antibody treatments modestly slow disease progression in mild dementia due to AD. Emerging evidence shows that homeostatic dysregulation of the brain immune system, especially that orchestrated by microglia, plays an important role in disease onset and progression.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLack of intracranial atherosclerosis in various atherosclerotic mouse models.
Vasc Biol
January 2025
M Daemen, Pathology, Amsterdam UMC Location AMC, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Background: Although mice are used extensively to study atherosclerosis of different vascular beds, limited data is published on the occurrence of intracranial atherosclerosis. Since intracranial atherosclerosis is a common cause of stroke and is associated with dementia, a relevant animal model is needed to study these diseases.
Methods And Results: We examined the presence of intracranial atherosclerosis in different atherogenic mouse strains and studied differences in vessel wall characteristics in mouse and human tissue in search for possible explanations for the different atherosclerotic susceptibility between extracranial and intracranial vessels.
Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!