Radiology: Volume 252: Number 3—September 2009
Christopher Uebleis, MD Alexander Becker, MD InesGriesshammer Paul Cumming, PhD Christoph Becker, MD Michael Schmidt, MD Peter Bartenstein, MD Marcus Hacker, MD
Purpose: To evaluate the incremental prognostic value of coronary artery calcification (CAC) scoring over single photon emis¬sion computed tomographic (SPECT) myocardial perfu¬sion imaging in long-term prognosis and survival of pa¬tients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD).
Materials and Methods: All patients provided written informed consent to undergo CAC scoring according to a protocol that was approved by the local clinical institutional review board. Over a median follow-up time of 5.4 years, 260 patients with stable CAD were followed up for severe cardiac events (cardiac death or nonfatal myocardial infarction). CAC scanning and SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging were performed at enrollment. Patients were stratified on the basis of well-established cutoff points for CAC score, summed stress score (SSS), and summed rest score (SRS). Kaplan-Meier survival curves and the Cox proportional hazards model were used.
Results: CAC score and SRS were identified as independent predic¬tors of severe cardiac events during long-term follow-up of patients with known CAD. CAC scores imparted superior risk stratification information as compared with SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging results alone.
Conclusion: In the described highly selected patient population, multidetector CT arthrography was useful for evaluating recurrent SLAP tears.