Thin-cut coronary calcium quantification: Advantages compared with standard 3 mm slices

Research comparing the accuracy of three MDCT slice thicknesses has found that 3-mm slices underestimated coronary artery calcium (CAC) scores at every level of calcification. The inaccuracies were caused by partial volume averaging errors.

"Our analysis proved this concept and showed that CAC can be more accurately measured with 0.5 or 1 mm using isotropic data acquisition obtained by a volume scanner at identical radiation dose ," said Farhood Saremi, MD, University of Southern California. "Coronary artery calcium can be more accurately measured with 0.5- or 1-mm slices using isotropic data acquisition obtained by a volume scanner at the identical radiation dose.

The study is featured in an electronic exhibit at the ARRS 2015 Annual Meeting in Toronto.