Noninvasive assessment of coronary atherosclerosis by cardiac computed tomography for risk stratifying patients with suspected coronary heart disease

Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) allows direct, noninvasive visualization of the coronary lumen, vessel wall, and coronary atherosclerosis. With the possibility of CCTA to provide spatial resolution that approaches that by conventional angiography,1 atherosclerotic plaque can be reliably identified, as confirmed by the gold standard of histopathology.2 Many studies have demonstrated the prognostic value of coronary atherosclerosis assessment by CT for predicting all-cause mortality, cardiac death, myocardial infarction, or unstable angina.
Source: Journal of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography - Category: Radiology Authors: Tags: Invited review Source Type: research