Multidetector CT coronary angiography for patient triage to invasive coronary angiography: Performance and cost in ambulatory patients with equivocal or suspected inaccurate noninvasive stress tests

Abstract

Background: Multidetector-CT angiography (MDCTA) differs from noninvasive stress tests by directly imaging coronary anatomy. The utility of MDCTA for invasive triage is undefined however. We evaluated MDCTA triage to invasive coronary angiography in outpatients with indeterminate or suspected inaccurate stress tests, and estimated cost savings by MDCTA in this role.

Methods: Consecutive MDCTA patients were retrospectively compared with noninvasive stress tests if performed within 6 months of MDCTA. Twelve-month clinical follow up was obtained for patients not undergoing invasive angiography, and cost using MDCTA for triage to invasive coronary angiography was calculated.

Results: MDCTA was performed in 385 patients who had noninvasive stress testing. Stress tests include included treadmill (n = 37), stress echo (n = 178), and nuclear perfusion imaging (n = 170). Invasive angiography was performed in 57 (14.8%). MDCTA compared to CA showed positive and negative predictive values of 94%/100% respectively for lesions found by invasive QCA. Stress testing compared to MDCTA showed positive/negative predictive values of 100%/67% for treadmill exercise, 60%/54% for stress echo, and 59%/55% of nuclear perfusion examinations respectively. One year clinical follow up in 314 patients showed no coronary events in 98% (309) of patients. Triage to invasive angiography by MDCTA showed a 4-fold cost reduction.

Conclusions: MDCTA shows excellent performance as a triage for invasive angiography in patients with stress tests that are equivocal or thought inaccurate. A negative CTA confers good 12-month prognosis. Substantial cost savings may accrue using MDCTA in this triage role.