Role of multi-slice CT coronary angiography in evaluating the different patterns of coronary artery disease in patients with unstable angina

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the different patterns of coronary artery disease among patients with unstable angina by the role of multislice CT coronary angiography. Patients and methods: From September 2013 to May 2014, 40 patients complaining from unstable angina showing initial negative ECG and troponin enzyme underwent a multi-slice CT coronary angiography. Each patient underwent a non-contrast scan to determine the calcium score, then a contrast enhanced ECG gated scan, then the obtained axial images were reconstructed on an advanced workstation. Finally, a systematic analysis of the coronary artery lesions was performed. Results: 9 patients had normal CTCA, 5 had dense coronary calcification, 16 had no significant obstructive lesion and 10 patients had significant CAD. A total of 60 coronary vessels were found to have plaques. The number of patients with multi-vessel disease was significantly higher than those with single-vessel disease at the time of diagnosis. Conclusion: Non-invasive multi-slice CT coronary angiography is a reliable technique of high ability to detect coronary artery disease and estimate the degree of obstruction, number of affected arteries and the pattern of their affection and can be used in workup in patients with unstable angina.

Keywords

• Coronary artery disease (CAD)
• Multislice computed tomography (MSCT)
• Coronary artery calcium score (CACS)
• Unstable angina