Noninvasive characterization of coronary plaques is challenging for cardiologists. The authors’ goal was to explore the clinical feasibility of newly developed 16-slice computed tomography (CT) in tissue characterization of coronary arterial plaques in patients with acute coronary syndrome. Sixteen patients with acute coronary syndrome underwent 16-slice CT (Aquillion, Toshiba) and coronary arteriography with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) within 7 days. Twenty-three plaques were classified by IVUS according to plaque echogenicity: 6 soft plaques, 11 intermediate plaques, and 6 calcified plaques. Mean (±SD) CT numbers (Hounsfield units [HU]) of these 3 types of plaques were 50.6 ±14.8 HU, 131 ±21.0 HU, and 721 ±231 HU, respectively. Sixteen-slice CT facilitates noninvasive tissue characterization of coronary arterial plaques.
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