Radiology: Dual-source CTA effective for patients with atrial fibrillation
Dual-source CT technology provides a temporal resolution that allows CT coronary angiography at higher heart rates and even with atrial fibrillation (AF), according to a study published in the November issue of Radiology.
Dilek Oncel, MD, and colleagues from the department of radiology at Sifa Medical Center in Basmane Izmir, Turkey, examined 15 consecutive patients (nine men, six women) with a mean age of 58.5 years. Two radiologists blinded to the conventional coronary angiography results examined images (good, moderate or poor quality) of patients with significant stenosis greater than 50 percent. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive values (NPV) were calculated. McNemar test was used to search for any significant difference between dual-source CT and conventional coronary angiography in helping detect coronary stenosis.
Sixteen segments by reader one and 13 segments by reader two were considered as poor image quality and rejected for further analysis. All segments with good image quality were correctly diagnosed. The respective overall sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV values were 87 percent, 98 percent, 77 percent and 99 percent for reader one and 80 percent, 99 percent, 80 percent and 99 percent for reader two.
Though no significant difference between dual-source CT and conventional coronary angiography was found in helping detect significant stenosis, the researchers found that dual-source CTA is effective for patients with atrial fibrillation.
Dilek Oncel, MD, and colleagues from the department of radiology at Sifa Medical Center in Basmane Izmir, Turkey, examined 15 consecutive patients (nine men, six women) with a mean age of 58.5 years. Two radiologists blinded to the conventional coronary angiography results examined images (good, moderate or poor quality) of patients with significant stenosis greater than 50 percent. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive values (NPV) were calculated. McNemar test was used to search for any significant difference between dual-source CT and conventional coronary angiography in helping detect coronary stenosis.
Sixteen segments by reader one and 13 segments by reader two were considered as poor image quality and rejected for further analysis. All segments with good image quality were correctly diagnosed. The respective overall sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV values were 87 percent, 98 percent, 77 percent and 99 percent for reader one and 80 percent, 99 percent, 80 percent and 99 percent for reader two.
Though no significant difference between dual-source CT and conventional coronary angiography was found in helping detect significant stenosis, the researchers found that dual-source CTA is effective for patients with atrial fibrillation.