The role of cardiac computed tomography in predicting adverse coronary events

Abstract

Cardiac computed tomography (CCT) is now considered a first-line diagnostic test for suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) providing a non-invasive, qualitative, and quantitative assessment of the coronary arteries and pericoronary regions. CCT assesses vascular calcification and coronary lumen narrowing, measures total plaque burden, identifies plaque composition and high-risk plaque features and can even assist with hemodynamic evaluation of coronary lesions. Recent research focuses on computing coronary endothelial shear stress, a potent modulator in the development and progression of atherosclerosis, as well as differentiating an inflammatory from a non-inflammatory pericoronary artery environment using the simple measurement of pericoronary fat attenuation index. In the present review, we discuss the role of the above in the diagnosis of coronary atherosclerosis and the prediction of adverse cardiovascular events. Additionally, we review the current limitations of cardiac computed tomography as an imaging modality and highlight how rapid technological advancements can boost its capacity in predicting cardiovascular risk and guiding clinical decision-making.

Subclinical Hypertension-Mediated Organ Damage (HMOD) in Hypertension: Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ASCVD) and Calcium Score

“…Cardiac computed tomography (CCT) (Fig. 2 ) has emerged in the last decade as an important non-invasive modality for the evaluation of coronary artery disease (CAD) with actively expanding indications [ 12 ]. Initial research led to the establishment of a CACS for improved risk stratification of asymptomatic patients with intermittent probability for adverse atherosclerotic events; a CACS of zero is associated with low rates of future adverse events [ 13 ], although also in those patients polygenic risk scores remain associated with ASCVD events [ 14 ].…”

“…In summary, the evaluation of CACS has a good clinical values, since it has good correlation with long-term risk of cardiac events and incremental predictive value on top of traditional risk factors, it has some pros (low radiation, no contrast, quick, inexpensive, reproducible) but also some cons (unclear value of serial CCT assessments, must consider pre-test probability of CAD) [ 12 ].…”