Experience with spiral computed tomography used in the diagnosis of atherosclerotic calcification of coronary arteries
Vasil'ev, A.I.; Aleksakhina, T.I.; Barbotko, T.V.
Klinicheskaia Meditsina 82(8): 27-29
2004
ISSN/ISBN: 0023-2149 PMID: 15468720 Document Number: 567739
Cardiovascular diseases, including coronary heart disease (CHD), are one of the main causes of death in persons aged above 40 years. The WHO report of human health in 2003 declares cardiovascular diseases as an occult epidemiology of not only the developed, but also developing countries. CHD prevention successfully tested in the USA and Europe is recognized to be the only method of its control. The standardized calculation of coronary calcification (Cardiac Scoring) is one of the most constituents of this prevention. Cardiac Scoring was first used during electronic radiation tomography in 1990. While algorithms of a study and clinical use of the results were produced, X-ray computed tomographs, both single-spiral (SSCT) and multispiral (MSCT) ones were perfected. The experience with Cardiac Scoring was successfully applied to the use of MSCT. Although routine spiral tomography ranks below MSCT in its capacity of visualizing the distal segments of coronary arteries and of synchronizing with the movement of the heart, SSCT has some advantages for its wide use, accessibility, and rather high efficiency. Demand for primary, ambulatory screening for coronary atherosclerosis, primarily asymptomatic one when the typical symptom complex of CHD has not been formed yet generates the necessity of using all possible methods for calculation of calcification, including spiral computed tomography. The determination of coronary calcification by SSCT and MSCT is under discussion, this problem has its supporters and opponents. At the same time it is accepted that it would near sightedly suppress innovation that may be finally advantageous.