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Inter-scan variability of coronary artery calcium scoring assessed on 64-multidetector computed tomography vs. dual-source computed tomography: a head-to-head comparison

Ghadri, Jelena R. ; Goetti, Robert ; Fiechter, Michael ; Pazhenkottil, Aju P. ; Küest, Silke M. ; Nkoulou, Rene N. ; Windler, Christina ; Buechel, Ronny R. ; Herzog, Bernhard A. ; Gaemperli, Oliver ; Templin, Christian ; Kaufmann, Philipp A.

In: European Heart Journal, 2011, vol. 32, no. 15, p. 1865-1874

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    Title
    • Inter-scan variability of coronary artery calcium scoring assessed on 64-multidetector computed tomography vs. dual-source computed tomography: a head-to-head comparison
    Author
    • Ghadri, Jelena R.. Department of Radiology, Cardiac Imaging, University Hospital Zurich, Ramistrasse 100, NUK C 32, CH-8091 Zurich, Switzerland
    • Goetti, Robert. Department of Radiology, Cardiac Imaging, University Hospital Zurich, Ramistrasse 100, NUK C 32, CH-8091 Zurich, Switzerland
    • Fiechter, Michael. Department of Radiology, Cardiac Imaging, University Hospital Zurich, Ramistrasse 100, NUK C 32, CH-8091 Zurich, Switzerland
    • Pazhenkottil, Aju P.. Department of Radiology, Cardiac Imaging, University Hospital Zurich, Ramistrasse 100, NUK C 32, CH-8091 Zurich, Switzerland
    • Küest, Silke M.. Department of Radiology, Cardiac Imaging, University Hospital Zurich, Ramistrasse 100, NUK C 32, CH-8091 Zurich, Switzerland
    • Nkoulou, Rene N.. Department of Radiology, Cardiac Imaging, University Hospital Zurich, Ramistrasse 100, NUK C 32, CH-8091 Zurich, Switzerland
    • Windler, Christina. Department of Radiology, Cardiac Imaging, University Hospital Zurich, Ramistrasse 100, NUK C 32, CH-8091 Zurich, Switzerland
    • Buechel, Ronny R.. Department of Radiology, Cardiac Imaging, University Hospital Zurich, Ramistrasse 100, NUK C 32, CH-8091 Zurich, Switzerland
    • Herzog, Bernhard A.. Department of Radiology, Cardiac Imaging, University Hospital Zurich, Ramistrasse 100, NUK C 32, CH-8091 Zurich, Switzerland
    • Gaemperli, Oliver. Department of Radiology, Cardiac Imaging, University Hospital Zurich, Ramistrasse 100, NUK C 32, CH-8091 Zurich, Switzerland
    • Templin, Christian. Department of Radiology, Cardiac Imaging, University Hospital Zurich, Ramistrasse 100, NUK C 32, CH-8091 Zurich, Switzerland
    • Kaufmann, Philipp A.. Department of Radiology, Cardiac Imaging, University Hospital Zurich, Ramistrasse 100, NUK C 32, CH-8091 Zurich, Switzerland
    Document Type
    • Postprint
    OAI-PMH Identifier
    • oai:doc.rero.ch:304379
    Summary
    Aims Coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring has emerged as a tool for risk stratification and potentially for monitoring response to risk factor modification. Therefore, repeat measurements should provide robust results and low inter-scanner variability for allowing meaningful comparison. The purpose of this study was to investigate inter-scanner variability of CAC for Agatston, volume, and mass scores by head-to-head comparison using two different cardiac computed tomography scanners: 64-detector multislice CT (MSCT) and 64-slice dual-source CT (DSCT). Methods and results Thirty patients underwent CAC measurements on both 64-MSCT (GE LightSpeed XT scanner: 120 kV, 70 mAs, 2.5 mm slices) and 64-DSCT (Siemens Somatom Definition: 120 kV, 80 mAs, 3 mm slices) within <100 days (0-97). Retrospective intra-scan comparison revealed an excellent correlation. The excellent intra-scan (inter-observer) agreement was documented by narrow limits of agreement and a correlation coefficient of variation (COV) of r ≥ 0.99 (P < 0.001) for all CAC scores with a low COV for both scanners (64-MSCT/64-DSCT), i.e. Agatston (2.0/2.1%), mass (3.0/2.0%), and volume (4.7/3.9%). Inter-scanner comparison revealed larger Bland-Altman (BA) limits of agreement, despite high correlation (r ≥ 0.97) for all scores, with COV at 15.1, 21.6, and 44.9% for Agatston, mass, and volume scores. The largest BA limits were observed for volume scores (−1552.8 to 574.2), which was massively improved (−241.0 to 300.4, COV 11.5%) after reanalysing the 64-DSCT scans (Siemens) with GE software/workstation (while Siemens software/workstation does not allow cross-vendor analysis). Phantom measurements confirmed overestimation of volume scores by ‘syngo Ca-Scoring' (Siemens) software which should therefore be reviewed (vendor has been notified). Conclusion Intra- and inter-scan agreement of CAC measurement in a given data set is excellent. Inter-scanner variability is reasonable, particularly for Agatston units in the clinically most relevant range <1000. The use of different software solutions has a greater influence particularly on volume scores than the use of different scanner types