ABSTRACT
Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) of the coronary arteries has become feasible with mechanical CT scanners as temporal and spatial resolution has improved with the availability of increasing numbers of detector rows with multidetector-row CT (MDCT). The ability to perform a less than 200 ms acquisition of submillimeter slices allows the coronary arteries to be effectively imaged even with their small size, complex course, and motion during the cardiac cycle. The main advantages of MDCT coronary angiography are evaluation of the vessel wall in addition to the lumen, the non-invasive nature of the study, and assessment for non-cardiac pathology as a source of the patient’s symptoms. Calcified and noncalcified plaques can be diagnosed, coronary artery stenoses can be detected and quantified, and bypass grafts and coronary stents can be assessed for patency. Additional potential applications include evaluation of myocardial contractility, perfusion, and scarring.
