Medical Imaging and Clinical Research

Coronary artery disease (CAD) remains the leading cause of death in western countries with increasing prevalence in developing countries. The standard reference for diagnosis of CAD is coronary catheter angiography. Imaging of the heart has always been technically challenging because of the heart’s continuous motion.

CT imaging of the heart moved into the diagnostic realm by the introduction of multi-detector row CT (MDCT) and development of ECG-Synchronized scanning and reconstruction techniques.

These modalities allow for faster volume coverage, high spatial and temporal resolution. The introduction of MDCT especially has greatly benefitted cardiovascular CT applications as the speed of image acquisition shortens, breath hold and examination time for the patient and reduces the amount of contrast media needed for high and consistent vascular enhancement. The advents of 128-slice MDCT scanner sub millimetre resolution (0.4 mm) of substantial anatomic volumes are routinely achieved.

Aim of this study is: to study the role of MDCT coronary angiography in coronary artery disease (CAD) in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients; to study the calcium score in patients undergoing MDCT coronary angiography; to study the role of MDCT coronary angiography in patients with risk factors and to study the role of MDCT coronary angiography in follow ups of post-CABG and post-angioplasty stent patients.