A Sex-Based Comparison of Cardiac MRI and SPECT for Diagnosing Coronary Artery Disease

Data from a CE-MARC substudy show significant diagnostic underperformance of SPECT in women.

In the single-center CE-MARC trial, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI) outperformed single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) for detecting obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with suspected angina (NEJM JW Gen Med Feb 7 2012). Now, in a prespecified CE-MARC substudy, researchers compared the diagnostic accuracy of cMRI with that of SPECT by sex.

In all, 235 women and 393 men with suspected angina underwent cMRI and SPECT. To avoid referral bias, the study protocol mandated that all patients also undergo x-ray coronary angiography regardless of their cMRI or SPECT results. The sensitivity of cMRI was statistically similar in women and men (88.7% and 85.6%, respectively, P=0.57), as was the specificity (83.5%…

Reviewing Author

JoAnne M. Foody, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardAegerion; Amarin; Bristol-Myers Squibb; Janssen; Merck; Pfizer; Sanofi-Aventis; Boehringer Ingelheim

Leadership positions in professional societiesAmerican College of Cardiology, Cardiosmart (Co-chair)

JoAnne M. Foody, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardAegerion; Amarin; Bristol-Myers Squibb; Janssen; Merck; Pfizer; Sanofi-Aventis; Boehringer Ingelheim

Leadership positions in professional societiesAmerican College of Cardiology, Cardiosmart (Co-chair)

A Sex-Based Comparison of Cardiac MRI and SPECT for Diagnosing Coronary Artery Disease

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Reviewing Author