Low Calcium Score£The Prevalence of Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease in Patients Undergoing 64-slice Computed Tomographic Angiography.
Tainan Municipal Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan
S. Han, Y. Chen, C. Fang
Background: There is a paucity of information regarding the prevalence of atherosclerotic plaque in patients with low calcium score.
Methods: A total of 934 patients (558 men and 376 women) with suspected CAD from a single center were included in this study. CT data sets were evaluated for CAC score, noncalcified plaque and luminal narrowing.
Results: Prevalence of noncalcified coronary plaque and obstructive CAD (≧50% stenosis) was 64 (10.5%) and 18 (3.2%) in patients with 0 CAC score. One patient with 0 CAC score even had LAD total occlusion. Prevalence of noncalcified coronary plaque and obstructive CAD (≧50% stenosis) was 152 (40%) and 78 (20.5%) in patients with low CAC score.
Conclusion: Low CAC score does not exclude the possibility of noncalcified plaque, obstructive coronary artery disease or even total occlusion. CAC score combining contrast-enhanced coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is suggested for complete workup.
