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Editorial
. 2021 Oct;28(5):2215-2219.
doi: 10.1007/s12350-020-02058-8. Epub 2020 Mar 13.

Coronary artery calcification: More than meets the eye

Xianxi Huang  1   2   3 , Jessica D'Addabbo  1   2 , Patricia K Nguyen  4   5   6
Affiliations
Editorial

Coronary artery calcification: More than meets the eye

Xianxi Huang et al. J Nucl Cardiol. 2021 Oct.
No abstract available

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Schematic of the relationship between interface area and plaque vulnerability. Plaque vulnerability is difficult to predict. Patients with and without traditional risk factors suffer heart attacks. The relationship between coronary artery calcification (CAC) volume is also unreliable. Recent data suggests that 18F-NaF PET imaging and measurements of calcium (Ca) density may be more reflective of plaque vulnerability because they measure the interface area between hard and soft plaque. Thus, plaques with spotty micro-calcification, which have high 18F-NaF signal and low density calcium may be most vulnerable to rupture.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Schematic of how to improve risk stratification. To deliver a more personalized approach toward risk stratification, we need to incorporate risk calculators that are sex- and race-specific and include measures of physical activity and fitness. Moreover, the addition of imaging to closely evaluate the macro- and micro-architecture would help to identify the most vulnerable patients.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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    1. Kavousi M, Desai CS, Ayers C, et al. Prevalence and prognostic implications of coronary artery calcification in low-risk women: A meta-analysis. JAMA 2016;316:2126–34. - PubMed

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