J Korean Radiol Soc.  2007 Dec;57(6):511-518. 10.3348/jkrs.2007.57.6.511.

The Relationship between Aortic Calcification Volume and Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease: Comparison with Coronary Calcification Volume

• Kim DS
• Kim JH
• Park CH
• Park SY
• Choe SJ
• Hwang HY
• Kim HS

• KMID: 1945350
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3348/jkrs.2007.57.6.511

Abstract

PURPOSE
We compared the diagnostic performance of aortic calcification volume with that of coronary artery calcification volume at CT in diagnosing obstructive coronary artery disease (OCAD).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A total of 308 patients (M: F=141:167) underwent coronary CT angiography using a 64-slice MDCT. We measured the calcification volume (mm3) of coronary artery (CAC), thoracic aorta (TAC), abdominal aorta (AAC), and whole aorta (AC) at unenhanced CT. OCAD was defined as the significant stenosis (>=50%) in any coronary artery at CT angiography. The diagnostic performance for OCAD was evaluated by calculating the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.
RESULTS
Among the 308 patients studied, 45 patients were diagnosed with OCAD. The mean volumes of TAC, AAC, AC, and CAC were 518.8 mm3, 551.5 mm3, 1069.9 mm3, 57.6 mm3, respectively. The areas under the ROC curve of TAC, AAC, AC, and CAC for OCAD were 0.766 (0.694<95% confidence interval <0.838), 0.837 (0.784<95% confidence interval <0.892), 0.814 (0.755<95% confidence interval <0.873), 0.871 (0.812<95% confidence interval<0.930), respectively.
CONCLUSION
The volume of aortic calcification as well as coronary artery calcification is associated with obstructive coronary artery disease.

Keyword

Aorta; Coronary disease; Coronary vessels; Calcinosis; Tomography, X-Ray computed

MeSH Terms

Angiography
Aorta
Aorta, Abdominal
Aorta, Thoracic
Calcinosis
Constriction, Pathologic
Coronary Artery Disease*
Coronary Disease
Coronary Vessels*
Humans
ROC Curve
Tomography, X-Ray Computed