Accuracy of low-dose prospectively gated axial coronary CT angiography for the assessment of coronary artery stenosis in patients with stable heart rate.

BACKGROUND: Desirable methods for cardiac CT angiography would both reduce radiation exposure from cardiac CT angiography and preserve accuracy.

OBJECTIVES: We assessed image quality, radiation dose, and diagnostic accuracy of a low-dose, prospectively gated axial cardiac CT angiography protocol for the evaluation of patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD).

METHODS: Fifty consecutive patients referred for diagnostic invasive coronary angiography (ICA) and with a stable heart rate < 60 beats/min after beta-blocker administration were prospectively enrolled in a single center study. Subjects underwent CT angiography with a 64-row multidetector CT scanner with a prospectively gated axial imaging protocol. If the examination was determined to be nondiagnostic, then a retrospectively gated helical scan was performed. Two reviewers independently assessed image quality and the presence of significant coronary artery stenosis (>50%).

RESULTS: Prospectively gated CT angiography was successfully performed in 46 of 50 patients. Of 794 coronary segments, 777 were determined to be of diagnostic image quality. The overall patient-based sensitivity (95% CI), specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy for the diagnosis of significant coronary stenosis were 100% (87%-100%), 75% (53%-90%), 81% (64%-93%), 100% (81%-100%), and 88% (81%-95%), respectively. The mean effective radiation dose for CT angiography and ICA were 3.4 +/- 0.4 mSv and 6.9 +/- 0.8 mSv, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: Cardiac CT angiography performed in a prospectively gated axial mode with 64-row multidetector CT provides an accurate, low-dose alternative for the detection of CAD.