Clinical application of electron beam computed tomography in intravenous three-dimensional coronary angiography

Objective To investigate the clinical application of intravenous three dimensional coronary angiography using electron beam computed tomography (EBCT) as compared with selective coronary angiography Methods Intravenous EBCT and selective coronary angiography were performed during the same period in 38 patients The value of EBCT angiography for diagnosing coronary artery disease was evaluated Results The number of coronary arteries adequately evaluated by EBCT angiography was 134 out of 152 vessels (88 2%), including 100% of the left main coronary arteries, 94 7% of the left anterior descending arteries, 81 6% of the left circumflex arteries and 76 3% of the right coronary arteries Significantly more left main and left anterior descending coronary arteries were adequately visualized than the left circumflex and right coronary arteries ( P 0 05) The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and positive and negative predictive value of EBCT angiography for diagnosing coronary artery disease were 88 0%, 84 6%, 86 8%, 91 7%, and 78 6%, respectively Of the 38 arteries with ≥50% stenosis, EBCT underestimated 8, for a sensitivity of 78 9% Of the 96 arteries without significant stenosis, EBCT overestimated 7 stenosis, for a specificity of 92 7% Conclusion Intravenous electron beam computed tomographic coronary angiography is a promising noninvasive method for diagnosing coronary artery disease