Non-enhanced cardiac computed tomography-still an open book.

摘要

The assessment of coronary artery calcium (CAC) by ECG-gated non-contrast enhanced computed tomography (NCCT) has achieved widespread clinical acceptance as a measure of coronary atherosclerosis and future cardiac risk. A CAC score of 0 is associated with an excellent prognosis while elevated levels provide incremental prognostic information above and beyond that of conventional cardiovascular risk factors in both Caucasian and multiethnic populations. Specifically, the CAC score has been consistently shown to be more predictive of cardiac outcomes as well as all-cause mortality than the Framingham risk score. Guidelines have been increasingly favorable regarding the use of CAC scanning and currently the test is commonly used in asymptomatic patients for predicting future coronary events and in guiding the intensity of preventive therapies.