Coronary artery calcification detected by PET/CT scan as a marker of myocardial ischemia/coronary artery disease

BACKGROUNDThere have been no data with regard to the relationship between coronary artery calcification (CAC) detected with positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT), as incidental findings, and myocardial perfusion single photon computed tomography (MPS) results in patients with cancer. OBJECTIVESThe main objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between CAC detected on the CT component of PET/CT and abnormal MPS in patients with cancer before oncologic surgery. METHODA total of 157 patients without known coronary disease and clinically proven indication for PET/CT underwent PET/CT and MPS as a routine preoperative workup. PET/CT and MPS were performed within 3 months. The frequency of abnormal MPS was compared with the presence or absence of CAC. CAC was evaluated visually. RESULTSAmong 81 patients with no CAC, MPS results were normal in 71 patients (88%). Only 10 patients (20%) with no CAC had abnormal MPS (P