• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.1033-1039
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• 2023

Low-dose chest CT, which is used as a lung screening test, also includes information on coronary artery calcification within the scan range. The purpose of this study was to investigate the usefulness of determining coronary artery calcification using Low-dose chest CT. Those who underwent low-dose chest CT and coronary artery calcification score CT on the same day were eligible. Coronary artery calcium score CT results were divided into 4 groups (Low: 1〈CACS〈10, Mild: 10〈CACS〈100, Moderate: 100〈CACS〈400, High: 400〈CACS) by referring to the Coronary artery calcium score categories and risks. After selecting 30 people each group, five radiotechnologists with more than 15 years of experience in coronary artery calcium measurement retrospectively analyzed the presence or absence of coronary artery calcification in low-dose chest CT images. The results of the five observers' uniform interpretation of the low-dose chest CT image were consistent with the coronary artery calcium score CT results in Low group: 56%, Mild group: 96.6%, Moderate group: 100%, and High group: 100%. appeared. In the Low group, all 5 observers observed calcification in 17 out of 30 cases, and in 7 cases all 5 observers decided that calcification could not be identified. Coronary artery calcification could be observed in 100% of asymptomatic adults with a calcium score of 15 or higher in low-dose chest CT scans. The minimum calcium score that can be identified is 1, and it was found that even very small calcifications can be identified when the subject's body size is small or the scan is performed at a time when heart movement is minimal.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.33-38
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• 2009

Objective : This study was conducted to determine an association between aortic calcification viewed on plain chest radiography and obstructive coronary artery disease. Method : Retrospective review of all chest radiography obtained from consecutive patients undergoing coronary angiography. Chest PA images were reviewed by technical radiologist and radiologist. Considering the presence of aortic arch calcification, images were compared with the results of coronary angiography. In addition, the size of aortic arch calcification were divided into two groups - the smaller and the larger than 10 mm. Results : Among the total 846 patients, the number of the patients with obstructive coronary artery disease is total 417 (88.3%) in males and 312 (83.4%) in females. Considering the presence of aortic arch calcification, the positive predictive value of relation between aortic arch calcification and obstructive coronary artery disease was 91.4% and the relative risk of the group with aortic arch calcification to the opposite group was 1.10. According to the size of aortic arch calcification and obstructive coronary artery disease, the positive predictive value was 91.9% and the relative risk between two groups was 1.04. Conclusions : This study shows that aortic calcification was closely associated with obstructive coronary artery disease. If the aortic calcification is notified on plain chest radiography, we strongly recommend to consult with doctor.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.11 no.10
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• pp.333-341
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• 2011

To compare between calcium scoring CT (CSCT) and Low-dose CT (LDCT) image finding for coronary artery calcification (CAC) in screening of lung disease by MDCT. A total of 61 subjects who retired-workers exposed to inorganic dust were performed LDCT and CSCT by using a MDCT scanner on the same day, after be approved by the institutional review board, and obtaining the written informed consent from all subjects. LDCT images were read for detecting lung diseases as well as CAC by a experienced chest radiologist, then the subjects were divided either the positive group with CAC or the negative group without it. The CSCT was used to quantify and detect the presence of calcification in the coronary artery, and score of CAC calculated by using a Rapidia software (ver 2.8). In all coronary arteries, calcium score of positive group was higher better than that in negative group, especially in the total calcium (13.7 vs. 582.9, p=0.008) and the left anterior descending artery (3.2 vs. 249.0, p=0.006). CAC findings between CSCT and LDCT image were showed excellent agreement in cut-off point 100(K-value=0.80, 95% CI=0.69-0.91) from total calcium score. CAC findings on LDCT images showed the higher relation with CSCT. Therefore, the obstructive coronary artery disease could be predicted by CAC on LDCT images for screening of lung diseases.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.9 no.12
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• pp.339-347
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• 2009

Purpose : This study was to investigate the influence of heart rate and coronary calcification on diagnostic accuracy of 64-slice multidetector CT(MDCT) in coronary artery disease. Methods : 178 patients(84 men, 94 women) undergoing cardiac CT were included in this study. 3 coronary arteries(LAD, LCX, RCA) were assessed the presence of significant stenosis($\geq50%$) and the results compared with those of coronary angiography. Results : On a patient-based analysis, the diagnostic accuracy of 64-slice MDCT was 96.6%. The diagnostic accuracy on left anterior descending, left circumflex, right coronary artery were 86.5%, 84.3%, 92.1% respectively. Body mass index and blood pressure were not influenced on diagnostic accuracy of 64-slice MDCT. In less than 60/min of heart rate, accuracy was 90.1% and $\kappa$ value was 0.78. While in more than 70/min of heart rate, accuracy was 75.8% and $\kappa$ value was 0.52. In less than 100 of coronary calcification, accuracy was 91.3% and $\kappa$ value was 0.81. While in more than 400, accuracy was 68.6% and $\kappa$ value was 0.33. Conclusion : 64-slice MDCT shows similar diagnostic accuracy as coronary angiography. But in the context of more than 70/min of heart rate and 400 of coronary calcification, diagnostic accuracy was decreased. So there needs to identify heart rate and coronary calcification in cardiac CT, and if heart rate shows more than 70/min, use beta-blocker to regulate it.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.337-344
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• 2021

Coronary artery calcification is associated with cardiovascular risk factors and metabolic syndrome, and several studies have already reported that coronary artery calcification score are closely related to the amount of atherosclerotic plaques. This study was conducted on 109 patients who underwent coronary calcium CT who visited the comprehensive health examination center in Daegu city during the period from December 2020 to February 2021. we would like to investigate the relationship between coronary artery calcification score and blood factors. As a result of the study, the abnormal group increased the risk of calcification by 1.113 times compared to the normal group in the waist circumference factor. In the fasting glucose factor, the abnormal group increased the risk of calcification by 1.036 times compared to the normal group, and in the triglyceride factor, the abnormal group was normal. As the risk of calcification increased 1.008 times compared to the group, the waist circumference factor, fasting glucose factor, and triglyceride factor were found to be factors affecting coronary artery calcification score. The risk of developing calcification is primarily associated with waist circumference, anemia and triglycerides, and health care and health checks are expected to help reduce the incidence of cardiovascular disease and reduce medical costs.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.85 no.2
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• pp.270-296
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• 2024

Coronary CT angiography (CCTA) is recognized for its role as a gatekeeper for invasive coronary angiography in patients suspected of coronary artery disease because it can detect significant coronary stenosis with high accuracy. However, heavy plaque in the coronary artery makes it difficult to visualize the lumen, which can lead to errors in the interpretation of the CCTA results. This is primarily due to the limited spatial resolution of CT scanners, resulting in blooming artifacts caused by calcium. However, coronary stenosis with high calcium scores often requires evaluation using CCTA. Technological methods to overcome these limitations include the introduction of high-resolution CT scanners, the development of reconstruction techniques, and the subtraction technique. Methods to improve reading ability, such as the setting of appropriate window width and height, and evaluation of the position of calcified plaque and residual visibility of the lumen in cross-sectional images, are also recommended.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.427-435
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• 2009

We surveyed 586 patients who had been examined CCTA. Out of those patients, 299 (52%) has stenosis of coronary arteries; 166 males (28%) and 133 females (23%). Among them 246 stenosis patients (82.6%) are in 50's to 70's. The number of patients with 50% or more stenosis in more than 1 coronary artery is 299 including 43 males (33.9%) in their 60's and 39 females (37.5%) in their 70's. When a vessel score is higher than 2 points, 70 patients (50.1%) among 139 have 70% or more stenosis; 32 males (39.5%) in their 60's and 27 females (46.6%) in their 70's. It is noted that 14 patients in their 70's show more cases compared to other ages up to 2 or even 5 times when a vessel score is 3 points. LAD shows 77.6% of stenosis, LCX 47.5% and RCA 60.5%. Frequency of a triple vessel disease is high for patients in their 70's; 15 males (36.6%) and 13 females (56.5%) for both. 196 people (33.4%) in the group with stenosis have calcification, while only 40 (6.8%) in the group without stenosis have it. It means that calcification has a significant, if not absolute, correlation with stenosis of coronary arteries.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.83 no.1
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• pp.28-41
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• 2022

Acute coronary syndrome involves three types of coronary artery disease associated with sudden rupture of coronary artery plaque, and has a clinical presentation ranging from ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) to non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) or unstable angina. Cardiac CT can help quantify and characterize atherosclerotic plaques. According to a previous study, low-attenuation plaque, napkin ring sign, positive remodeling, spotty calcification, and increased perivascular fat attenuation are associated with plaque ruptures on cardiac CT. Therefore, coronary artery stenosis, as well as acute coronary artery syndrome, can be diagnosed using cardiac CT.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.343-350
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• 2023

Based on Lung CT Screening Reporting and Data System (Lung-RADS), which has been used to standardize reading for lung cancer screening since November 2016, the types and frequency of "S" modifier findings other than lung cancer were analyzed. As a result of this study, 360 cases (35.19%) of "S" modifier were found in 1,023 subjects, and the most frequent diseases were coronary calcification and emphysema, 145 (14.17%) of coronary calcification and 138 (13.49%) of emphysema, indicating that the discovery rate was very high compared to other findings. In addition, it was found to be highly associated with the duration of smoking, and in the case of coronary calcification, 9 cases (5.73%) were found in the non-smokers group A, 23 cases (11.44%) within 10 years of smoking, 39 cases (13.68%) in the C group within 20 years of smoking, and 31% of the E group over 30 years of smoking. In addition to coronary calcification and emphysema, abnormal findings of pneumonia, lung epilepsy, and mediastinal disease were also found to be p<0.05 as a result of the analysis of the association with the smoking period, indicating that the smoking period was affected.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.83 no.2
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• pp.360-371
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• 2022

Purpose This study aimed to assess the factors influencing aortic unfolding (AU) defined by aortic width on coronary artery calcium (CAC) scan and determine the normal limits for AU. Materials and Methods In this retrospective study, we measured AU in 924 asymptomatic subjects who underwent CAC scanning during routine health screening from June 2015 to June 2018. Multivariate regression analysis was used to evaluate the factors influencing AU. After the exclusion of subjects with risk factors associated with AU, 283 subjects were included in the analysis of normal values of AU. Mean AU, standard deviation, and upper normal limit were calculated. Results Sex, age, CAC score, body mass index, body surface area, hypertension, left ventricular hypertrophy, plasma creatinine, and smoking were significantly associated with AU. The mean AU was 102.2 ± 12.8 mm for men and 93.1 ± 10.7 mm for women. AU increased with advancing age (9.6 mm per decade). Conclusion AU determined from a single measurement on CAC scans was associated with cardiovascular risk factors. The normal limits of AU were defined by age, sex, and body surface area in low-risk subjects in this study.