Association of aortic root calcification severity with the extent of coronary artery calcification assessed by calcium-scoring dual-source computed tomography

• Aortic root calcification (ARC) on calcium-scoring dual-source CT scans was assessed.
• Correlation with coronary artery calcification (CAC) using the Agatston score was analyzed.
• Patients with ARC showed a significantly higher presence of CAC.
• Patients with an ARC volume > 40 mm ≥ demonstrated significantly higher rates of severe CAC.
• The extent of ARC is directly associated with the presence and degree of CAC.

PurposeTo investigate the association between aortic root calcification (ARC) and coronary artery calcification (CAC) assessed by coronary artery calcium-scoring dual-source computed tomography (DSCT).Materials and methodsWe retrospectively analyzed 143 consecutive patients who underwent coronary artery calcium-scoring during coronary DSCT angiography. 57 patients had findings of ARC on calcium-scoring scans. ARC volume (ARCV) and Agatston coronary artery calcium score (CACS) were calculated. Chi-square test was used to assess differences of categorical variables between patients with and without ARC. Statistical significances between both groups were assessed with the independent-Sample t test.ResultsCompared with patients without ARC (n = 86), patients with ARC (n = 57) showed a significantly higher presence of CAC (87.7% vs. 24.4%; P < 0.001), and a higher mean CACS (700.6 ± 941.2 vs. 256.4 ± 724.3; P = 0.009) in patients with CAC. Patients with a calculated ARCV >40 mm3 (n = 32) showed significantly higher rates of severe CAC (56.3% vs. 24.0%; P = 0.014) compared with patients with an ARCV < 40 mm3 (n = 25). Compared with patients without CAC (n = 42), patients with CAC (n = 101) showed a significantly higher presence of ARC (83.3% vs. 50.5%; P < 0.001) and a higher mean ARCV (95.4 ± 116.2 mm3 vs. 29.7 ± 33.0 mm3; P = 0.003). Severe CAC (n = 24) correlated with an increased mean ARCV (122.3 ± 148.8 mm3) compared to patients with minimal to moderate CAC (n = 33, mean ARCV: 61.9 ± 64.8 mm3; P < 0.05).ConclusionsThe extent of ARC is directly associated with the presence and degree of CAC on calcium-scoring scans during coronary DSCT angiography.