Multislice Computed Tomographic Characteristics of Coronary Lesions in Acute Coronary Syndromes

ObjectivesTo evaluate the feasibility of noninvasive assessment of the characteristics of disrupted atherosclerotic plaques, the authors interrogated the culprit lesions in acute coronary syndromes (ACS) by multislice computed tomography (CT).BackgroundDisrupted atherosclerotic plaques responsible for ACS histopathologically demonstrate large lipid cores and positive vascular remodeling. It is expected that plaques vulnerable to rupture should bear similar imaging signatures by CT.MethodsEither 0.5-mm × 16-slice or 64-slice CT was performed in 38 patients with ACS and compared with 33 patients with stable angina pectoris (SAP) before percutaneous coronary intervention. The coronary plaques in ACS and SAP were evaluated for the CT plaque characteristics, including vessel remodeling, consistency of noncalcified plaque (NCP <30 HU or 30 HU