The Role of Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography in Detecting Coronary Artery Stenosis

The aim of this study is to evaluate the role of Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography, a minimally invasive imaging method, in detecting coronary artery stenosis. This study retrospectively analyzed the coronary artery segments of 66 patients who underwent both Conventional Coronary Angiography and Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography at Ondokuz Mayıs University Hospital between May 2005 and November 2007. These patients were referred with indications such as angina pectoris, stent evaluation, or suspected coronary artery disease. Coronary artery segments were categorized into proximal, mid, and distal groups using the classification system defined by the American Heart Association. The degree of stenosis was evaluated based on the following classification: mild (1–49%), significant (50–74%), advanced (75–99%), and total occlusion (100%). The data obtained from Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography were retrospectively compared with the findings from Conventional Coronary Angiography. According to these findings, the sensitivity and specificity of Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography across all groups were calculated as 87% and 97%, respectively. Atherosclerotic changes in proximal segments led to a decrease in specificity, while difficulties in assessing distal segments resulted in reduced sensitivity. These results demonstrate that Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography, as supported by the literature, is a promising alternative method for detecting coronary artery stenosis. With advancements in technology, it is poised to become an effective tool for diagnosing coronary artery disease, which is rapidly increasing in prevalence in industrialized societies, and for screening asymptomatic patients who are at risk.