Diagnostic value of coronary computed tomographic angiography in detection of myocardial ischemia in patients with coronary heart disease risk equivalents

AIM To evaluate the performance of coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) in patients with coronary heart disease risk equivalents for diagnosis of myocardial ischemia. METHODSThis is a retrospective observational study, which included 100 patients with coronary heart disease risk equivalents. CCTA and MPI were conducted. The degree of coronary stenosis is divided by CCTA into the following groups: <50%, 50%-69%, ≥70%. Corresponding myocardial imaging on MPI is divided into normal perfusion and perfusion abnormalities. RESULTSAmong the total 400 coronary vessels, 22 coronary arteries were stenosed ≥50%, including ten with perfusion defect on MPI; 18/378 arteries in which coronary stenosis was<50% showed abnormal imaging on MPI. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of CCTA in detecting myocardial ischemia was 36%, 97%, 45%, 95%, respectively. CONCLUSIONCCTA is a useful method for exclusion of myocardial ischemia in patients with coronary heart disease risk equivalents, but with a low diagnostic performance.