Ordinal Scoring of Coronary Artery Calcification by Computed Tomography Pulmonary Angiography in Acute Pulmonary Embolism

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To assess coronary artery calcification (CAC) in patients with acute pulmonary embolism and determine whether this correlates with right ventricular dilation (RVD) and mortality. METHODS: Computed tomography pulmonary angiography scans of 330 patients were used to perform retrospective assessment of the pulmonary artery computed tomography obstruction index (PACTOI), the right/left ventricle diameter ratio, the diameter of the pulmonary trunk, and the ordinal CAC score. RESULTS: Age (P < 0.001), urea level (P < 0.001), D-dimer level (P = 0.006), diameter of the pulmonary trunk (P < 0.001), and PACTOI (P < 0.001) were significantly higher in the RVD-positive patient group. We found a significant relation between increased CAC score and increased mortality (P = 0.038). Left-sided CAC was detected much more often in RVD-positive patients (P = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: Coronary artery calcification is common in patients with acute pulmonary embolism, especially when those patients are also RVD-positive. A significant relation was found between RVD and left-sided CAC.