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A meta-analysis and systematic review of computed tomography angiography as a diagnostic triage tool for patients with chest pain presenting to the emergency department

  • Review Article
  • Published:
Journal of Nuclear Cardiology Aims and scope

Abstract

Background

To assess clinical utility of computed tomography angiography (CTA) in the diagnosis of chest pain patients presenting to emergency departments (EDs), we conducted a meta-analysis of CTA in patients with suspected acute coronary syndromes (ACSs).

Methods

386 studies were identified on initial review of literature. Inclusion criteria were: (1) prospective study with ≥1 month follow-up, (2) use of CTA in the ED setting, (3) use of ACC/AHA definitions for ACS and robust assessment of major adverse cardiac events, (4) ≥30 patients, and (5) study population with initial non-diagnostic ECGs and negative biomarkers.

Results

Nine studies (N = 1349) formed the data set. The pooled patient population was 52 ± 2 years of age, 51% male, with low to intermediate pretest probability for ACS. Risk factors included 12% diabetes, 42% hypertension, 35% smokers, 29% had hyperlipidemia, and 7% known CAD. ACS was subsequently diagnosed in 10% of patients. The bivariate summary estimate of sensitivity of CTA for ACS diagnosis was 95% (95% CI 88-100) and specificity was 87% (95% CI 83-92), yielding a negative likelihood ratio of 0.06 (95% CI 0-0.14) and positive likelihood ratio of 7.4 (95% CI 4.8-10). The 30-day event rate included no deaths and no additional MIs.

Conclusion

Coronary CTA demonstrates a high sensitivity and a low negative likelihood ratio of 0.06, and is effective in ruling out the presence of ACS in low to intermediate risk patients presenting to the ED with acute chest pain.

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Acknowledgment

The authors are grateful to Vic Hasselblad for his guidance and review of the statistical analysis.

Disclosures

None.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Duke University Medical Center (DUMC), P.O. Box 31328, Durham, NC, 27710, USA

    Zainab Samad MD, Manesh R. Patel MD & Pamela S. Douglas MD

  2. Department of Internal Medicine, Duke University Medical Center (DUMC), Durham, NC, USA

    Zainab Samad MD & David L. Simel MD, MHS

  3. Department of Cardiology, William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, MI, USA

    Abdul Hakeem MD

  4. Cardiovascular Imaging Center, Duke Clinical Research Institute, Durham, NC, USA

    Karen Pieper MS, Manesh R. Patel MD & Pamela S. Douglas MD

  5. Durham VA Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA

    Manesh R. Patel MD & David L. Simel MD, MHS

  6. The Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan

    Syed Shad Mahmood MBBS

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  1. Zainab Samad MD
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  2. Abdul Hakeem MD
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  3. Syed Shad Mahmood MBBS
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Correspondence to Zainab Samad MD.

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Funding sources: None.

Appendix A: Reason for Exclusion of Studies

Appendix A: Reason for Exclusion of Studies

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Samad, Z., Hakeem, A., Mahmood, S.S. et al. A meta-analysis and systematic review of computed tomography angiography as a diagnostic triage tool for patients with chest pain presenting to the emergency department. J. Nucl. Cardiol. 19, 364–376 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12350-012-9520-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12350-012-9520-2

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