• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
• /
• v.10 no.4
• /
• pp.285-290
• /
• 2016

The purpose of our study was to retrospectively evaluate the cause of a decreased calcium score of follow-up studies on coronary artery calcium scores (CACs) computed tomography (CT). The subjects were healthy 100 people(85 males $60.6{\pm}6.9$ years, 15 females $67.2{\pm}7.3$ years). The subjects decreased CACs were divided into 4 subgroups depending on Agatston classification, minimal (1-10), mild (11-100), moderate (101-400), severe (400<). As a result of decreased CACs were scan location disagreement 51%, motion artifact 26%, equipment changes 14%, operator mistakes 5%, input miss 2%, image loss 1%, arrhythmia 1%. In the mild group, the most common decreased CACs were 49 people. In the minimal group, the most significant variation reduction has occurred to 6 people. Scan location disagreement was considered a partial volume effects due to the scan starting position. It showed less than 100 CACs a high variation (19.7%) in more than 100 CACs, a lower variation (2.2%), these could be seen that the variation range is different that can be tolerated according to the calcification score. Motion artifact factor was found in 26%, which is so closely related to the preceding tests that affect the higher heart rate like this pulmonary function test, exercise stress test.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
• /
• v.10 no.7
• /
• pp.268-275
• /
• 2010

Coronary artery calcium scores(CACS) has been used as surrogate marker for coronary atherosclerosis. We evaluated 1042 patients who visited the Department of Health Promotion Center in Chonnam National University Hospital and had a test of the CACS from January 2006, to December 2008. This study was performed to evaluate the relation of the CACS with Cadiovascular disease(CVD) risk factors and FRS. CACS and FRS was a significant difference between the group whose calcium score was 0 and the group whose calcium scores were 1 in case of men 2.38(95% CI, 1.83-3.11), women 2.12(95% CI, 1.03-4.35). The age-and sex-adjusted odds ratios for predictor of CVD risk factors to women with age was 1.10(95% CI, 1.06-1.15), HDL-cholesterol was 2.38(95% CI, 1.04-5.44), Fasting plasma glucose was 2.89(95% CI, 1.16-7.21), to men with age was 1.11(95% CI, 1.08-1.14), LDL-cholesterol was 2.12(95% CI, 1.28-3.50), gamma-GTP was 1.73(95% CI, 1.17-2.55), Diabetes mellitus medication was 3.92(95% CI, 1.73-8.89). The CACS seems to be a siginificant factor to evaluate the CVD risk factors.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
• /
• v.39 no.1
• /
• pp.25-36
• /
• 2014

Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between coronary artery calcification and risk factors of cardiovascular disease with multidetector computed tomography. Methods: Data were collected from 5,899 males between 30 and 59 years old by interview, survey, physical examination, blood test, and multidetector computed tomography in the university hospital from January 2010 to December 2011. We confirmed the coronary artery calcium scores of subjects by multidetector computed tomography and identified risk factors of cardiovascular disorders. We investigated the relationship between coronary artery calcification and risk factors of cardiovascular disorders. Results: Mean calcium score of the coronary arteries in 5,899 participants was 8.20, and 773 participants (13.1%) exhibited coronary artery calcification. The presence of coronary artery calcification was correlated to risk factors of cardiovascular disease (age, blood pressure, triglyceride, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, glucose, Apolipoprotein A-1, Apolipoprotein B, body mass index, waist circumference) and risk assessment tools of cardiovascular disorders. Significant predicted factors of coronary artery calcification had different patterns in each age group (30-39, 40-49, 50-59 years old). Conclusions: We confirmed the relationship between coronary artery calcification and either typical risk factors of cardiovascular disease or risk assessment tools of cardiovascular disease. In addition, we also observed that the pattern of these factors varied according to age. Therefore, age-related variation needs to be considered in management strategies to prevent cardiovascular disease.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
• /
• v.83 no.1
• /
• pp.54-69
• /
• 2022

Early detection of potential asymptomatic coronary artery disease is very important, as patients with sudden cardiac death often do not show symptoms such as chest pain or motor dyspnea. Coronary CT angiography (CCTA) has long been unjustified as a screening tool for asymptomatic patients because of the risks posed by radiation exposure. However, there are still various opinions regarding the usefulness of CCTA for screening for coronary artery disease (CAD) in asymptomatic healthy individuals or patients. This review investigated the usefulness of coronary artery calcium score and CCTA as screening tests for CAD in asymptomatic healthy individuals or patients through various literature reviews. With the development of CT technology, recent studies have been conducted in asymptomatic CAD patients with a reduced radiation dose of less than 1 mSv. A total of 2.6% of asymptomatic subjects on CCTA found significant CAD over 70%, and it was concluded that screening CCTA for CAD showed prognostic power in predicting the future occurrence of CAD in asymptomatic people. However, after the completion of the current NIH SCOT-HEART 2 study, it may be possible to determine whether CCTA is appropriate as a screening tool for CAD in asymptomatic healthy individuals.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
• /
• v.24 no.4
• /
• pp.284-293
• /
• 2023

Objective: To validate a simplified ordinal scoring method, referred to as modified length-based grading, for assessing coronary artery calcium (CAC) severity on non-electrocardiogram (ECG)-gated chest computed tomography (CT). Materials and Methods: This retrospective study enrolled 120 patients (mean age ± standard deviation [SD], 63.1 ± 14.5 years; male, 64) who underwent both non-ECG-gated chest CT and ECG-gated cardiac CT between January 2011 and December 2021. Six radiologists independently assessed CAC severity on chest CT using two scoring methods (visual assessment and modified length-based grading) and categorized the results as none, mild, moderate, or severe. The CAC category on cardiac CT assessed using the Agatston score was used as the reference standard. Agreement among the six observers for CAC category classification was assessed using Fleiss kappa statistics. Agreement between CAC categories on chest CT obtained using either method and the Agatston score categories on cardiac CT was assessed using Cohen's kappa. The time taken to evaluate CAC grading was compared between the observers and two grading methods. Results: For differentiation of the four CAC categories, interobserver agreement was moderate for visual assessment (Fleiss kappa, 0.553 [95% confidence interval {CI}: 0.496-0.610]) and good for modified length-based grading (Fleiss kappa, 0.695 [95% CI: 0.636-0.754]). The modified length-based grading demonstrated better agreement with the reference standard categorization with cardiac CT than visual assessment (Cohen's kappa, 0.565 [95% CI: 0.511-0.619 for visual assessment vs. 0.695 [95% CI: 0.638-0.752] for modified length-based grading). The overall time for evaluating CAC grading was slightly shorter in visual assessment (mean ± SD, 41.8 ± 38.9 s) than in modified length-based grading (43.5 ± 33.2 s) (P < 0.001). Conclusion: The modified length-based grading worked well for evaluating CAC on non-ECG-gated chest CT with better interobserver agreement and agreement with cardiac CT than visual assessment.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
• /
• v.22 no.11
• /
• pp.1777-1785
• /
• 2021

Objective: To investigate the accuracy of the Agatston score obtained with the ultra-high-pitch (UHP) acquisition mode using tin-filter spectral shaping (Sn150 kVp) and a kVp-independent reconstruction algorithm to reduce the radiation dose. Materials and Methods: This prospective study included 114 patients (mean ± standard deviation, 60.3 ± 9.8 years; 74 male) who underwent a standard 120 kVp scan and an additional UHP Sn150 kVp scan for coronary artery calcification scoring (CACS). These two datasets were reconstructed using a standard reconstruction algorithm (120 kVp + Qr36d, protocol A; Sn150 kVp + Qr36d, protocol B). In addition, the Sn150 kVp dataset was reconstructed using a kVp-independent reconstruction algorithm (Sn150 kVp + Sa36d, protocol C). The Agatston scores for protocols A and B, as well as protocols A and C, were compared. The agreement between the scores was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and the Bland-Altman plot. The radiation doses for the 120 kVp and UHP Sn150 kVp acquisition modes were also compared. Results: No significant difference was observed in the Agatston score for protocols A (median, 63.05; interquartile range [IQR], 0-232.28) and C (median, 60.25; IQR, 0-195.20) (p = 0.060). The mean difference in the Agatston score for protocols A and C was relatively small (-7.82) and with the limits of agreement from -65.20 to 49.56 (ICC = 0.997). The Agatston score for protocol B (median, 34.85; IQR, 0-120.73) was significantly underestimated compared with that for protocol A (p < 0.001). The UHP Sn150 kVp mode facilitated an effective radiation dose reduction by approximately 30% (0.58 vs. 0.82 mSv, p < 0.001) from that associated with the standard 120 kVp mode. Conclusion: The Agatston scores for CACS with the UHP Sn150 kVp mode with a kVp-independent reconstruction algorithm and the standard 120 kVp demonstrated excellent agreement with a small mean difference and narrow agreement limits. The UHP Sn150 kVp mode allowed a significant reduction in the radiation dose.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
• /
• v.7 no.6
• /
• pp.369-376
• /
• 2013

Prepared her for the early detection of the risk of cardiovascular disease prevention for the various attempts being made ill through a lot of research to the criteria of coronary artery calcification, but the figure is more than 100 the progress of the flow can be expected to be was. In this study, we quantify the correlation between body composition analysis, blood lipid levels of calcium and public asymptomatic even at low calcium levels in comparison with the existing studies by analyzing potential risk of cardiovascular disease will be represented on the were evaluated. Studies, the calcium scores in the body composition analysis "1-10", and when "11-100" when there was a significant correlation in BMI and WHR look more normal frequency range of the mean values in the normal range meomulreoteuna 21% relative HDL and TG in lipid profiles, no significant correlation look more normal frequency range of risk were derived from the mean values in the normal range, 21% to 40% of the relative risk were derived. meomulreoteuna. In addition, there is no correlation between BFM and BMR Also, average increases in the frequency of a higher standard was higher relative risk derived 31 to 93%, and geological correlation test TC above 20mg/dl atherosclerotic sclerosis seems to be the value of HDL to act to remove cholesterol from atheroma already looking at the same time to suppress the occurrence of atherosclerosis, increased LDL showed higher values occurs rapidly increasing. At this time, the relative risk of 43-50% have been identified. In other words, even when calcium levels are low, that is inherent in the incidence of cardiovascular disease was unknown.

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