Evidence mapPaperPMID 41266671Full record

ArticleEuropean radiology2026

Ultra-high resolution photon-counting detector coronary CT angiography: diagnostic accuracy in patients with high Agatston scores.

Tristan T Demmert, Konstantin Klambauer, Lukas J Moser, Jonathan Michel, Markus Kasel, Robert Manka, Victor Mergen, Thomas Flohr, Matthias Eberhard, Hatem Alkadhi

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in European radiology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
  3. Review
  4. Review
  5. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Tristan T DemmertDiagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Konstantin KlambauerDiagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Lukas J MoserDiagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Jonathan MichelDepartment of Cardiology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Markus KaselDepartment of Cardiology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Robert MankaDiagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Victor MergenDiagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Thomas FlohrDiagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Matthias EberhardDiagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Hatem AlkadhiDiagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. hatem.alkadhi@usz.ch.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2581-2166

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesSevere coronary artery calcification leads to blooming artifacts in conventional coronary CT angiography (CCTA), which may reduce diagnostic accuracy. Ultra-high resolution (UHR) photon-counting detector CT (PCD-CT) reduces calcium blooming. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of UHR CCTA with PCD-CT for detecting coronary stenoses in patients with a high coronary calcium burden compared to invasive coronary angiography (ICA). MATERIALS AND

methodsIn this IRB-approved single-center study, patients with Agatston scores > 600 were included, who underwent ICA and coronary UHR PCD-CT angiography within 2 months. 94% of patients underwent CT prior to transcatheter aortic valve replacement. Coronary arteries were graded for diameter stenosis severity (> 50, > 70%) by two blinded, independent readers. Accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of CCTA were calculated using ICA as the reference standard. Subgroup analyses were performed across Agatston score groups (600-999, 1000-1999, 2000-2999, and > 3000).

results62 patients (mean age, 76 ± 9 years, 16 women) were included. The median Agatston score was 2423 (IQR: 1085-3340). Across all Agatston categories, CCTA demonstrated high diagnostic accuracy and strong agreement with ICA (Cohen's kappa 0.71-1.00). In patients with Agatston scores > 3000 (n = 18), the diagnostic performance of coronary UHR PCD-CT angiography for detecting > 50% (sensitivity 92-100%, specificity 83-100%) and > 70% diameter stenosis (sensitivity 88-100%, specificity 89-100%) remained high for both readers. There was no correlation between the Agatston score and diagnostic error (p > 0.05).

conclusionUHR CCTA with PCD-CT provides high diagnostic performance even in patients with extensive coronary calcifications. KEY POINTS: Question In patients with severe coronary calcification, conventional coronary CT angiography often suffers from blooming artifacts, reducing accuracy and causing unnecessary invasive procedures. Findings Ultra-high resolution coronary angiography with photon-counting detector CT showed high sensitivity and specificity for detecting stenoses, even at Agatston scores > 3000. Clinical relevance Ultra-high resolution coronary CT angiography enables accurate noninvasive detection of stenoses in heavily calcified vessels, potentially reducing invasive coronary angiography.

Indexed as

Computed Tomography AngiographyCoronary AngiographyCoronary Artery DiseaseCoronary StenosisVascular CalcificationAgedAged, 80 and overArtifactsFemaleHumansMalePhotonsReproducibility of ResultsSensitivity and SpecificitySeverity of Illness IndexAgatston scoreCalcificationCCTACoronaryICA

Identifiers

PMID41266671
PMCPMC13086694

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.