Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
2965119 | Journal of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography | 2008 | 5 Pages |
Abstract
The coronary artery calcium (CAC) score above which it is recommended that coronary computerized tomographic angiography (CTA) not be performed has been steadily increasing. Currently, calcium scores > 1000 are thought to prohibit CTA accurate interpretation. However, a reasoned approach suggests that there is no absolute upper limit that applies to all patients and imaging centers. To anticipate the problems posed by calcium, a CAC scan must be obtained before CTA. Understanding the clinical goals of the CTA and the source and recognition of CAC-based imaging artifacts can enable accurate clinical CTA examinations even in the setting of high calcium scores.
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Authors
Harvey S. Hecht, Tandeep Bhatti,