Methods of plaque quantification and characterization by cardiac computed tomography

Journal of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography (2009) 3, Supplement 2, S91-S98

Pal Maurovich-Horvat, MD, Maros Ferencik, MD, PhD, Fabian Bamberg, MD, MPH, Udo Hoffmann, MD, MPH

Abstract. The pathologic evolution of coronary artery atherosclerosis occurs slowly over decades, which may provide an opportunity for diagnostic imaging to identify patients before clinical events evolve. Cardiac computed tomography (CT) is an emerging noninvasive imaging tool, which can visu­alize the entire coronary tree with submillimeter resolution. We reviewed the current status of cardiac CT to qualitatively and quantitatively determine coronary plaque dimensions and composition, and its potential to improve our understanding of the natural history of coronary artery disease as well as pre­vention of cardiovascular events. © 2009 Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography. All rights reserved.