Fast computed tomography detection of coronary calcification in the diagnosis of coronary artery disease. Comparison with angiography in patients < 50 years old.

Abstract

Although the specificity to detect angiographically significant coronary disease with fast CT improves in a younger patient population, it continues to be relatively low. In contrast to older patient populations, a small but significant number of patients < 50 years old with angiographically significant coronary artery disease do not have coronary calcification demonstrated by fast CT. Thus, caution should be used in excluding significant coronary artery disease on the basis of a negative fast CT study.