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Diagnostic and prognostic value of non-invasive imaging in known or suspected coronary artery disease

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Abstract

The role of non-invasive imaging techniques in the evaluation of patients with suspected or known coronary artery disease (CAD) has increased exponentially over the past decade. The traditionally available imaging modalities, including nuclear imaging, stress echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), have relied on detection of CAD by visualisation of its functional consequences (i.e. ischaemia). However, extensive research is being invested in the development of non-invasive anatomical imaging using computed tomography or MRI to allow detection of (significant) atherosclerosis, eventually at a preclinical stage. In addition to establishing the presence of or excluding CAD, identification of patients at high risk for cardiac events is of paramount importance to determine post-test management, and the majority of non-invasive imaging tests can also be used for this purpose. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the available non-invasive imaging modalities and their merits for the diagnostic and prognostic work-up in patients with suspected or known CAD.

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Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by The Netherlands Heart Foundation, The Hague, The Netherlands, grant 2002B105.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Deparment of Cardiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA, Leiden, The Netherlands

    J. D. Schuijf, J. W. Jukema, E. E. van der Wall & J. J. Bax

  2. Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands

    J. D. Schuijf, H. J. Lamb & A. de Roos

  3. The Interuniversity Institute of the Netherlands, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    J. D. Schuijf, J. W. Jukema & E. E. van der Wall

  4. The Thorax Center, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    D. Poldermans

  5. Atlanta Cardiovascular Research Institute, Atlanta, USA

    L. J. Shaw

  6. Cardiovascular Center, Aalst, Belgium

    W. Wijns

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  1. J. D. Schuijf
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Schuijf, J.D., Poldermans, D., Shaw, L.J. et al. Diagnostic and prognostic value of non-invasive imaging in known or suspected coronary artery disease. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 33, 93–104 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00259-005-1965-y

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