Non-invasive Imaging of Chronic Coronary Syndromes - CT Coronary Angiography and Stress Perfusion Cardiac MRI

Abstract

Non-invasive Imaging of Chronic Coronary Syndromes - CT Coronary Angiography and Stress Perfusion Cardiac MRI Abstract. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is amongst the leading causes of death worldwide. The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) has recently published new guidelines on diagnosis and management of chronic coronary syndromes. These guidelines emphasize the use of non-invasive imaging tests to assess CAD. Compared to previous versions of these guidelines, the pre-test probabilities of CAD based on age, sex and symptoms have been adjusted downward. Unless obstructive CAD can be excluded by clinical assessment alone, various strategies to diagnose CAD in symptomatic patients may be used: coronary CT angiography, non-invasive functional imaging for myocardial ischaemia, or invasive coronary angiography combined with functional evaluation. This review summarizes strengths and weaknesses of non-invasive cardiac imaging modalities with emphasize on coronary CT angiography and stress perfusion cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging.