ABSTRACT
Invasive X-ray coronary angiography using selective contrast enhancement of the lumen of the coronary arteries, is regarded as the reference standard for the detection of coronary obstructions in humans. Thus, invasive coronary angiography plays an essential role in the diagnosis of coronary artery disease and it will be not easy, or may even seem unlikely for multislice computed tomography (MSCT) coronary angiography to replace invasive coronary angiography. The advantages of MSCT are its lower costs, reduced patient risk and discomfort, and higher throughput. MSCT coronary angiograms are different from conventional angiograms. Sixty-four-slice CT coronary angiography is now available, and newer developments such as dual-source CT or 256-slice CT are in the preclinical or early clinical test phase. Although much has been achieved, CT technology is evolving and CT coronary angiography is slowly entering the clinical arena. Coronary arteries with diffuse and calcified atherosclerotic disease are more difficult to assess.
