Coronary CT angiography outperforms stress testing in diagnosing coronary artery disease By Reuters Health April 16, 2008 NEW YORK (Reuters Health), Apr 16 – Compared to stress testing, 64-multislice coronary computed tomography angiography has superior sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing obstructive coronary artery disease, based on a report in the March 15 issue of the American Journal of Cardiology. As investigator Dr. Wilbert S. Aronow told Reuters Health, “The data from this study showed that coronary computed tomographic angiography is better than stress testing in diagnosing obstructive coronary artery disease confirmed by coronary angiography, in patients who underwent coronary angiography because of suspected coronary artery disease.” Dr. Aronow of New York Medical College, Valhalla, and colleagues compared the methods in 145 patients. All underwent 64-multislice coronary CT angiography and coronary angiography. Stress testing was also performed in 47 of these patients. Overall, coronary CT angiography had 98% sensitivity and 74% specificity for diagnosing obstructive coronary artery disease. Corresponding values for stress testing were 69% and 36%. CT angiography had a 90% positive predictive value and a 94% negative predictive value. For stress testing, the figures were 78% and 27%. When results were restricted to the subgroup that underwent both types of testing, the superiority of CT angiography was even more apparent. “These data show that coronary CT angiography is better than stress testing in diagnosing CAD. However, stress testing provides information on the detection of myocardial ischemia and prognosis,” Dr. Aronow and colleagues conclude. By David Douglas Am J Cardiol 2008;101:774-775.