School of Medicine, University of Bristol, UK.
Clin Med (Lond). 2013 Oct;13(5):465-71. doi: 10.7861/clinmedicine.13-5-465.
Currently, there are no formal screening programmes for coronary artery disease (CAD). Computed tomographic coronary angiography (CTCA) has been suggested as a non-invasive and reliable method of atherosclerotic plaque assessment, with the potential for use in screening programmes. In this article, we briefly present the current understanding of atherosclerotic plaque formation, explain key technological aspects of CTCA and critique this method in the light of World Health Organisation (WHO) criteria for devising a screening programme. Current evolving and future insights are also considered. Overall, in our view, there is currently insufficient evidence to support the formal use of CTCA in a screening programme for CAD, although this viewpoint will undoubtedly evolve.
目前,尚无针对冠状动脉疾病(CAD)的正式筛查计划。计算机断层冠状动脉造影(CTCA)已被提议作为一种非侵入性和可靠的动脉粥样硬化斑块评估方法,具有用于筛查计划的潜力。在本文中,我们简要介绍了目前对动脉粥样硬化斑块形成的理解,解释了 CTCA 的关键技术方面,并根据世界卫生组织(WHO)制定筛查计划的标准对该方法进行了评估。还考虑了当前正在发展和未来的观点。总体而言,我们认为,目前尚无足够的证据支持 CTCA 在 CAD 筛查计划中的正式使用,尽管这种观点无疑将不断发展。