TY - JOUR
T1 - Coronary artery calcification is often not reported in pulmonary CT angiography in patients with suspected pulmonary embolism
T2 - An opportunity to improve diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome
AU - Johnson, Connor
AU - Khalilzadeh, Omid
AU - Novelline, Robert A.
AU - Choy, Garry
PY - 2014/4
Y1 - 2014/4
N2 - OBJECTIVE. In patients with suspected pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE), coronary artery calcification (CAC) can be an incidental finding on pulmonary CT angiography. We evaluated the frequency of CAC not being reported and its association with a diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). MATERIALS AND METHODS. Data of 469 consecutive patients who were referred to the emergency radiology department for pulmonary CT angiography of suspected PTE were reviewed. Radiology reports were rechecked and positive CAC findings were recorded. All pulmonary CT angiograms were reevaluated by one radiologist and CAC findings were recorded. The rates of ACS and PTE as final diagnoses for that hospital admission were calculated. The association between CAC and ACS diagnosis was assessed in different subgroups of patients. RESULTS. Approximately 11.1% of patients had PTE and 43.8% had CAC. The incidence of CAC was significantly higher in patients with an ACS diagnosis than in those without ACS (56.2% vs 40.4%, respectively; odds ratio [OR] = 1.9). There was a strong positive association (OR = 3.5) between CAC and ACS in younger patients (men ≤ 45 years and women ≤ 55 years), patients without PTE (OR = 2.2), and those without cardiometabolic risk factors (OR = 3.8). CAC was not reported in 45% of patients ( n = 98) with positive CAC findings on imaging. ACS was the final diagnosis in 31.6% of patients with unreported CAC. There was a significant association between CAC and ACS in patients with unreported CAC (OR = 2.2). This association was more prominent in the subgroups described. CONCLUSION. CAC is often not reported in pulmonary CT angiography studies. CAC is a significant predictor of ACS particularly in younger patients, patients without PTE, and those without cardiometabolic risk factors. Especially in these subgroups, radiologists should assess CAC findings.
AB - OBJECTIVE. In patients with suspected pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE), coronary artery calcification (CAC) can be an incidental finding on pulmonary CT angiography. We evaluated the frequency of CAC not being reported and its association with a diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). MATERIALS AND METHODS. Data of 469 consecutive patients who were referred to the emergency radiology department for pulmonary CT angiography of suspected PTE were reviewed. Radiology reports were rechecked and positive CAC findings were recorded. All pulmonary CT angiograms were reevaluated by one radiologist and CAC findings were recorded. The rates of ACS and PTE as final diagnoses for that hospital admission were calculated. The association between CAC and ACS diagnosis was assessed in different subgroups of patients. RESULTS. Approximately 11.1% of patients had PTE and 43.8% had CAC. The incidence of CAC was significantly higher in patients with an ACS diagnosis than in those without ACS (56.2% vs 40.4%, respectively; odds ratio [OR] = 1.9). There was a strong positive association (OR = 3.5) between CAC and ACS in younger patients (men ≤ 45 years and women ≤ 55 years), patients without PTE (OR = 2.2), and those without cardiometabolic risk factors (OR = 3.8). CAC was not reported in 45% of patients ( n = 98) with positive CAC findings on imaging. ACS was the final diagnosis in 31.6% of patients with unreported CAC. There was a significant association between CAC and ACS in patients with unreported CAC (OR = 2.2). This association was more prominent in the subgroups described. CONCLUSION. CAC is often not reported in pulmonary CT angiography studies. CAC is a significant predictor of ACS particularly in younger patients, patients without PTE, and those without cardiometabolic risk factors. Especially in these subgroups, radiologists should assess CAC findings.
KW - Acute coronary syndrome
KW - Coronary calcification
KW - Coronary heart disease
KW - Pulmonary CT angiography
KW - Pulmonary thromboemboli
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U2 - 10.2214/AJR.13.11326
DO - 10.2214/AJR.13.11326
M3 - Article
C2 - 24660698
AN - SCOPUS:84897003672
SN - 0361-803X
VL - 202
SP - 725
EP - 729
JO - The American journal of roentgenology and radium therapy
JF - The American journal of roentgenology and radium therapy
IS - 4
ER -