Accuracy of coronary computed tomography angiography vs intravascular ultrasound for evaluation of vessel area

Abstract

Background: We evaluated the accuracy of commonly used thresholds for vessel area evaluation on coronary CT angiography (CTA) and assessed ability of CTA to image the adventitial border.

Methods: We evaluated 137 paired (coronary CTA and intravascular ultrasound [IVUS]) coronary artery cross-sections in 30 patients. CTA analysis included measurements of external vessel border area defined at Hounsfield unit (HU) thresholds of 0 (presumed adventitia), 50, and 70 (presumed external elastic membrane [EEM]). IVUS analysis included measurements of lumen, EEM, and outer border of the highly echogenic area adjacent to EEM (presumed adventitia area).

Results: High correlation was found between CTA and IVUS measurements for EEM areas (R(2) = 0.65, P < .001 and R(2) = 0.60, P < .001 for CTA thresholds of 50 and 70 HU, respectively). CTA and IVUS measurements of adventitia areas were significantly correlated (R(2) = 0.74; P < .001), with no significant difference between the 2 methods (20.2 ± 6.4 mm(2) vs 19.8 ± 6.4 mm(2), respectively; P = .278). Cross-sectional coronary lumen radiodensity on CTA images and plaque burden measured on IVUS significantly affected the accuracy of CTA in assessment of the EEM area but not the presumed adventitial area.

Conclusions: We have demonstrated that use of a 50-HU threshold for vessel area determination by CTA led to its significant overestimation, whereas 70-HU threshold was close to that of EEM on IVUS. CTA may accurately delineate the coronary adventitial border by using a 0-HU threshold.

Keywords: Atherosclerosis; Computed tomography; Coronary angiography; Coronary artery disease; Intravascular ultrasound; adventitia.