Integrating Anatomical and Functional Assessment of Coronary Artery Disease: Can MDCT act as the lone Gatekeeper in the near Future?

Abstract Several multicenter trials have demonstrated the high diagnostic accuracy and clinical efficacy of modern coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) when utilized to evaluate symptomatic patients with low-to-intermediate pretest probability of coronary artery disease (CAD). However, coronary CTA remains a purely anatomic test and further assessment with invasive coronary angiography or other non-invasive tests are occasionally required, with subsequent inherent risks and costs to patients and healthcare systems. Recently, remarkable advances in multidetector computed tomography technology has significantly improved temporal and spatial resolution of coronary CTA. In the past decade, initially in animal models and then in humans, stress myocardial perfusion imaging by computed tomography (CTP) evolved and is being increasingly studied. It is the purpose of this review to highlight recent updates in the CTP literature and try to figure how to place CTP in CAD management in the near future.
Source: Current Cardiovascular Imaging Reports - Category: Radiology Source Type: research