CT angiography paired with FFR can inform decisions for certain CAD patients
CT angiography (CTA), coupled with fractional flow reserve (FFR), demonstrated an ability to detect functionally significant lesions in patients with multivessel coronary artery disease (CAD).
The study, published June 11 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, analyzed 77 patients from the SYNTAX II study who had three-vessel CAD and were considered at equivalent risk for coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).
When compared to traditional angiography, CTA overestimated the SYNTAX score (SS), while fractional flow reserve derived from computed tomography angiography (FFRCT) almost mirrored conventional angiography with an SYNTAX score (SS) of 21.6 versus 21.2 respectively. The scores border European and American guidelines for CABG and PCI.
“Due to the invasive nature and associated costs of SS and FSS, the concept of noninvasive interventional planning is attractive,” wrote Bjarne L. Norgaard, MD, PhD with Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark and colleagues in an accompanying editorial.
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Matt joined Chicago’s TriMed team in 2018 covering all areas of health imaging after two years reporting on the hospital field. He holds a bachelor’s in English from UIC, and enjoys a good cup of coffee and an interesting documentary.