Anatomic Imaging, Functional Imaging, or Both in Suspected Coronary Disease?

A combination of approaches might offer more prognostic information.

Multislice computed tomography (MSCT) often is used now to evaluate patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD), but how does it compare prognostically with established technologies, such as single-photon emission computed tomography myocardial perfusion imaging (SPECT-MPI)? In a Scandinavian study, 541 patients at risk for CAD underwent both tests and were followed for a median 672 days. For MSCT results, the researchers defined CAD as stenosis ≥50%; for MPI results, a summed stress score ≥4 was considered abnormal. The 517 patients with interpretable MSCT results fell into the following groups:

Both MSCT and MPI were negative in 274 patients.
MSCT was negative and MPI was positive in 85 patients.
MSCT was positive and MPI was negat…

Reviewing Author

Kirsten E. Fleischmann, MD, MPH

Disclosures

Grant/Research SupportNational Institutes of Health

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican College of Cardiology/American Heart Association

Kirsten E. Fleischmann, MD, MPH

Disclosures

Grant/Research SupportNational Institutes of Health

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican College of Cardiology/American Heart Association