Comparison of image quality in contrast-enhanced coronary artery visualization by electron beam tomography and retrospectively electrocardiogram-gated multislice spiral computed tomography

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES. To compare the image quality of electron beam tomography (EBT) and multislice spiral CT (MSCT) for coronary artery visualization. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Two groups of 30 patients without coronary stenoses were studied by MSCT (4 x 1 mm collimation) or EBT (3 mm slice thickness). Contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), overall length of the visualized arteries and vessel length free of motion artifacts were measured. RESULTS. Length of visualized arteries was equal in MSCT and EBT. In EBT, longer segments were depicted free of motion artifacts (MSCT: 73%, EBT: 92% of visualized length, P < 0.001) and CNR was significantly higher than in MSCT (15.4 vs. 9.0; P < 0.001). In both modalities, vessel diameters correlated closely to quantitative coronary angiography. CONCLUSIONS. EBT and MSCT permit reliable coronary artery visualization and measurement of vessel diameters. For the used scan protocol, MSCT images had a lower CNR and were more frequently affected by motion.