Sensitivity of Two Electron Beam Tomography Protocols for the Detection and Quantification of Coronary Artery Calcium

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Abstract
OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to compare the sensitivity of two electron beam tomography protocols for detection and quantification of coronary artery calcium.SUBJECTS AND METHODS. We selected 101 patients (57% men, mean age 53 ± 10 years) to undergo two consecutive electron beam tomography and acquired imaging with both a 6-mm and a 3-mm slicing protocol. Three pixels (area, 1.03 mm2) and a minimal density of 130 H were used for definition of calcified plaque.RESULTS. We found coronary artery calcifications in 46 patients when we used a 6-mm protocol and in 61 patients when we used a 3-mm protocol (p < 0.001). The average total calcium score was 77 (±140) with a 6-mm protocol and 251 (±395) with a 3-mm protocol (p < 0.005). The average number of calcified lesions per patient was 1.7 for a 6-mm protocol and 3.7 for a 3-mm protocol (p < 0.01). Of 179 individual lesions seen using a 3-mm protocol, 103 (58%) were missed using a 6-mm protocol, and only 27% of the lesions with a calcium score less t...