Abstract:

Objective   To explore the correlation between left coronary bifurcation and plaque formation and diameter changes of left coronary branch by coronary artery CT angiography(CTA).  Methods   97 patients suspected of coronary artery disease (CAD) underwent 256-slice CT and dual-source CT(DSCT) angiography of coronary artery. The original data were reconstructed into images of 2D or 3D in the workstation using the soft-ware of Analyze V 7.0. Left bifurcation angle (LAD-LCX) and left coronary diameter were measured in reconstructed images, and plaque formations in left coronary artery were detected. Results   Comparing the mean bifurcation angle between 80 patients with plaque formation (97±12.3)° and 17 patients with normal left coronary artery (70.8±10.3)°, there was significant difference between two groups (P=0.018). There were 69 patients whose left bifurcation angles were over 80° (account for 71%)，and there were 62 patients whose plaque formations were in both LAD and LCX (account for 89.8%). Similarly, there was a significant difference (P<0.001) in the diameters of LAD and LCX between 80 patients with plaque formation and 17 patients with normal left coronary artery. Comparing the mean diameters of LAD and LCX between 69 patients with bifurcation angle over 80° and 11 patients with less than 80°, there was significant difference in the mean LCX diameter (P=0.032), and there was no significant difference in the mean LAD diameter (P=0.46). Conclusion   There is a correlation between left bifurcation angle and formation of plaques and diameter changes. Plaques concentrate on left coronary arteries with wider bifurcation angle. The diameters of LCX with plaques and larger bifurcation angle get wider with compensable remodeling.

Key words: Coronary artery； CT angiography； Bifurcation； Plaque； Remodel