OBJECTIVETo evaluate the value of dual source computed tomography coronary angiography (DSCT-CA) on detecting in-stent restenosis (> 50% luminal narrowing) in symptomatic patients referred for quantitative coronary angiography (QAC).

METHODSFifty five patients (43 males) with chest pain after coronary stent implantation within 6 - 12 months were evaluated by DSCT-CA and QAC. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of DSCT-CA were calculated using coronary angiography as gold standard.

RESULTSEighty nine stents were implanted. In-stent restenosis was evidenced in 28 stents (31.5%) by QAC. The sensitivity, specificity PPV and NPV of DSCT-CA for the diagnosis of in-stent restenosis was 89%, 87%, 76% and 95%, respectively. Diagnostic efficiency was not affected by heart rate and the sensitivity was 0.94 vs. 0.82, the specificity 0.88 vs. 0.90, the PPV 0.76 vs. 0.75 and the NPV 0.97 vs. 0.93 (all P > 0.05) between patients with heart rate < 70 beats/min and patients with heart rate ≥ 70 beats/min. The sensitivity (84% vs. 100%), specificity (81% vs. 96%), PPV (70% vs. 90%) and NPV (91% vs. 100%) were similar between overlapping or bifurcations stents and single stents. The specificity (100% vs. 80% vs. 66%) and PPV (100% vs. 95% vs. 53%) were significantly higher in the groups with stents ≥ 3.50 mm, stents 3.00 mm than in stents ≤ 2.75 mm (both P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONDiagnostic efficiency of in-stent restenosis with DSCT-CA in the large diameter stent is better than in the small diameter stent and the diagnosis efficacy is not affected by heart rate and stent distribution.