Progress in noninvasive coronary artery imaging using multislice CT

Conventional coronary angiography (CAG) has been the reference standard for the assessment of coronary artery disease since its introduction in 1958. However, several studies have shown that diagnostic CAG has an average morbidity of 2% and a mortality of approximately 0.1%. In the last decade, progress in medical imaging has opened the way to noninvasive assessment of the coronary arteries at lower cost and risk. Of the different modalities, multislice CT (MSCT) has made the biggest step forward. At the 2005 European Congress of Radiology (ECR), experiences with the latest developments in non-invasive coronary artery imaging were reported. This report summarises the advances in the use of MSCT in coronary stenosis detection, emergency decision-making, plaque imaging, and the analysis of cardiac function and late enhancement. Also, attention is paid to new strategies to reduce MSCT-related radiation exposure.