Noninvasive plaque imaging using multislice detector spiral computed tomography

Abstract

Multislice detector spiral computed tomography (MSCT) is a noninvasive modality for visualization and evaluation of atherosclerosis in vivo in different arterial beds. Rapid technical advances led to a significant improvement of the diagnostic accuracy of coronary MSCT angiography. The most popular clinical application with best scientific Medical evidence of MSCT is the noninvasive detection and quantification of coronary calcifications. In particular, the concept of determining coronary artery age by evaluating an individual's biological age, rather than his or her chronological age, is attractive and currently under scientific evaluation. In addition to evaluating contrast-enhanced coronary arteries, different stages of atherosclerosis can be visualized. By comparative studies with intracoronary ultrasound, it could be shown that echogenicity corresponds well with the density measured within atherosclerotic plaques expressed by Hounsfield units using MSCT. Although the method is improving continuously and is still under development, the potential of MSCT to evaluate plaque composition and plaque volumes noninvasively in vivo is promising.