IntegratingMultidetector Computed Tomography Into Clinical PracticeComputed Tomography Scanning Shows its Metal

摘要

Selective coronary angiography (1) opened the era of in vivo visualization of the coronary arteries. It allowed new insights into the pathophysiology of coronary syndromes and made it possible to perform myocardial revascularization using bypass surgery and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Almost SO years later, advances in technology have opened another new era, this time an era of noninvasive cardiac imaging. Specifically, multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) is capable of providing high-quality almost-instant noninvasive coronary angiography, with high diagnostic accuracy for the assessment of coronary stenoses (2-10) and the identification and characterization of coronary plaques (11,12).