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Accuracy of coronary artery stenosis detection with CT versus conventional coronary angiography compared with composite findings from both tests as an enhanced reference standard

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Abstract

Objective

To prospectively compare the accuracy of coronary CT angiography (CCTA) and conventional coronary angiography (CCA) for stenosis detection using composite findings from both tests as an enhanced reference standard.

Methods

One hundred thirteen patients underwent CCTA and CCA. Per-segment and per-patient accuracy of CCTA compared with initial CCA interpretation were determined. Angiographers were then unblinded to the CCTA results and re-evaluation of the CCA studies was performed with knowledge of CCTA findings, which was used as an enhanced reference standard to compare the diagnostic accuracy of CCTA versus CCA.

Results

When using the enhanced reference standard instead of initial CCA interpretation, CCTA accuracy for identifying segments (patients) with ≥50% stenosis increased from 97.7% (96.5%) to 98.1% (98.2%), sensitivity from 90.5% (100%) to 90.8% (100%), and specificity from 98.4% (94.3%) to 98.9% (97.1%). CCTA identified six segments and two patients with stenoses ≥50% missed on initial CCA interpretation. Compared with the enhanced reference standard the accuracies of CCTA and of initial CCA interpretation were not different (p = 0.87).

Conclusion

CCTA compares favourably with CCA for stenosis detection. Use of a composite reference standard combining findings from both tests can control for the effect of false-negative CCA results when evaluating the accuracy of CCTA.

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Acknowledgements

U. Joseph Schoepf is a medical consultant for and receives research support from Bayer-Schering, Bracco, General Electric Healthcare, Medrad, and Siemens. Peter L. Zwerner receives research support from Boehringer-Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squib, Bracco, and Siemens.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Medical University of South Carolina, 25 Courtenay Drive, Charleston, SC, 29401, USA

    J. Matthias Kerl, U. Joseph Schoepf, Peter L. Zwerner, Ralf W. Bauer, Joseph A. Abro, Christian Thilo & Christopher Herzog

  2. Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University of Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany

    J. Matthias Kerl, Ralf W. Bauer, Thomas J. Vogl & Christopher Herzog

  3. Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA

    U. Joseph Schoepf, Peter L. Zwerner & Christian Thilo

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  1. J. Matthias Kerl
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  2. U. Joseph Schoepf
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  3. Peter L. Zwerner
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  4. Ralf W. Bauer
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  7. Thomas J. Vogl
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  8. Christopher Herzog
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Correspondence to U. Joseph Schoepf.

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Kerl, J.M., Schoepf, U.J., Zwerner, P.L. et al. Accuracy of coronary artery stenosis detection with CT versus conventional coronary angiography compared with composite findings from both tests as an enhanced reference standard. Eur Radiol 21, 1895–1903 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-011-2134-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-011-2134-2

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