J Korean Soc Radiol.  2013 Dec;69(6):437-447.

Serial Changes of Coronary Atherosclerotic Plaque: Assessment with 64-Slice Multi-Detector Computed Tomography

• Kim EY
• Kang DK
• Sun JS
• Choi SY

Abstract

PURPOSE
To evaluate the progression of coronary atherosclerotic plaque during follow-up, and its association with cardiovascular risk factors.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Fifty-six atherosclerotic patients with plaque were enrolled in this retrospective study. Patient's plaque was detected on repeat 64-slice multidetector CT scans with a mean interval of 25 +/- 10 months changes in calcified and non-calcified plaque volumes and cardiovascular risk factors were assessed over time. Absolute and relative changes in plaque volume were compared, and the association between rapid progression and cardiovascular risk factors was determined.
RESULTS
Diameter of the stenosis, length, calcified and non-calcified lesion plaque volumes increased significantly on follow-up CT. Absolute and relative annual changes in plaque volumes were significantly greater in non-calcified plaque (median, 22.7 mm3, 90.4%) than in calcified plaque (median, 0.7 mm3, 0%). Obesity, smoking, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and low high-density lipoprotein were significant predictors of progression of non-calcified plaque. Progression of calcified plaque was not associated with any cardiovascular risk factors.
CONCLUSION
Coronary plaque volume increased significantly on follow-up CT. The rate of progression is related to non-calcified plaque than to calcified plaque. Cardiovascular risk factors are independently associated with the rapid progression of non-calcified plaque volume, but not associated with the progression of calcified plaque.

MeSH Terms

Constriction, Pathologic
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Hypercholesterolemia
Hypertension
Lipoproteins
Obesity
Plaque, Atherosclerotic*
Retrospective Studies
Risk Factors
Smoke
Smoking
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Lipoproteins
Smoke

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Plaque progression in the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery at baseline and at the 20 month follow-up in a 43-year-old male patient. A, B. Agatston calcium score and volume increased from 1.71 to 13.3 and from 5.2 mm2 to 13.3 mm2, respectively. C, D. Stenosis diameter of the proximal LAD lesion progressed from 6% to 57.9% on the curved multiplanar reformation image. E, F. Non-calcified plaque volume increased consistently from 4.6 mm2 at baseline to 10.9 mm2 at follow-up.

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