Electron Beam CT versus 16-slice Spiral CT : How Accurately Can We Measure Coronary Artery Calcium Volume?

Horiguchi Jun

Shen Yun

Akiyama Yuuji

Hirai Nobuhiko

Sasaki Kosuke

Ishifuro Minoru

Ito Katsuhide

European Radiology

Objective: The purpose of this study is to investigate how accurately we can measure CAC volume using electron beam computed tomography (CT) and 16-slice spiral CT. Materials and Methods: CAC models with known volume attached to a cardiac phantom were scanned. The error of measurement, variability between measured and real volumes and inter-scan measurement variability were obtained. For spiral CT, 7 different parameters; i.e. (1) slice-thickness (0.625mm, 1.25mm and 2.5mm), (2) retrospective spiral electrocardiograph (ECG)-gated or prospective axial ECG-triggering, (3) overlapping or non-overlapping, were included. Results: The error of measurement was 150n electron beam CT and 8-2027777735740n spiral CT. CAC volumes were underestimated in 92-0x1.4b3a0b6a4aap-149nd overestimated in 81024570420f the electron beam CT scans. Volumes were underestimated in 79%, correct in 5-0x1.86278bfffa1a8p-150nd overestimated in 1626651131640f the spiral CT scans. The best measurement and the least variability was observed on 0.625mm retrospective spiral ECG-gated CT (error of 8%), a significant result (t-test: p<0.01) when compared with electron beam CT. Conclusion: CAC volume measurement on CT scanners may be significantly different and often underestimates the real volume of CAC. For precise evaluation of CAC volume, thin-slice retrospective spiral ECG-gated scan using a spiral CT scanner is desirable.

Calcification

Coronary artery

Electron beam CT

Spiral CT

Medical sciences [ 490 ]

eng

Springer

Copyright (c) 2006 Springer-Verlag. "The original publication is available at www.springerlink.com"

[ISSN] 0938-7994

[DOI] 10.1007/s00330-005-2904-9

[NCID] AA10824302

[PMID] 16175352

[DOI] http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00330-005-2904-9 isVersionOf