Quantification of atherosclerotic coronary plaque components by submillimeter computed tomography

Abstract

Coronary CT provides an accurate and reproducible method for the quantitative assessment of total plaque and calcified plaque areas. However, the method is less accurate for the quantification of non-calcified plaque area and lipid core size, which is ascribed to limited spatial and contrast resolution. With the present technique, the detection of vulnerable plaques by MDCT remains uncertain.

Changing Views of the Biomechanics of Vulnerable Plaque Rupture: A Review

“…There are three main types of non-invasive imaging technologies used in vivo , including Cardiac Computed Tomography (CT), 14,37,39,57 Cardiac Magnetic Resonance (MRI) 15,89 and Single Positron Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT). 68,70,74,81 Clinical CT has shown potential to identify soft, intermediate and calcified plaques, as well as spotty macrocalcifications.…”

Noncalcified Atherosclerotic Plaque Burden at Coronary CT Angiography: A Better Predictor of Ischemia at Stress Myocardial Perfusion Imaging Than Calcium Score and Stenosis Severity

“…Automated plaque volumetry has been found feasible, accurate, and reproducible [29][30][31][32][33]. Although the accuracy of the algorithm for plaque quantification was not the focus of our investigation, it was a limitation of our study that this specific algorithm has not been validated, against the reference standard intravascular ultrasound, for example.…”

Coronary Artery CT Angiography for Plaque Imaging

“…With the current technology, it appears that MDCTA overestimates coronary artery plaque volume. In a study of 30 autopsy hearts, MDCTA overestimated mean coronary plaque (11 mm 2 vs 4.3 mm 2 , P=0.0001), calcified plaque (6 mm 2 vs 3 mm 2 , P=0.0001), and noncalcified plaque (9 mm 2 vs 3 mm 2 , P=0.0001) [35]. In human subjects, the results have also been variable.…”