Evaluating Radiation Exposure in Patients with Stable Chest Pain in the SCOT-HEART Trial

Justin Chiong, Prasad Guntur Ramkumar, Nicholas W. Weir, Jonathan R. Weir-McCall, Alberto Nania, Leslee J. Shaw, Andrew J. Einstein, Marc R. Dweck, Nicholas L. Mills, David E. Newby, Edwin J.R. van Beek, Giles Roditi, Michelle C. Williams (Lead / Corresponding author)

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    2 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Background: In the Scottish Computed Tomography of the Heart (SCOT-HEART) trial in individuals with stable chest pain, a treatment strategy based on coronary CT angiography (CTA) led to improved outcomes. 

    Purpose: To assess 5-year cumulative radiation doses of participants undergoing investigation for suspected angina due to coronary artery disease with or without coronary CTA. 

    Materials and Methods: This secondary analysis of the SCOT-HEART trial included data from six of 12 recruiting sites and two of three imaging sites. Participants were recruited between November 18, 2010, and September 24, 2014, with follow-up through January 31, 2018. Study participants had been randomized (at a one-to-one ratio) to standard care with CT (n = 1466) or standard care alone (n = 1428). Imaging was performed on a 64-detector (n = 223) or 320-detector row scanner (n = 1466). Radiation dose from CT (dose-length product), SPECT (injected activity), and invasive coronary angiography (ICA; kerma-area product) was assessed for 5 years after enrollment. Effective dose was calculated using conversion factors appropriate for the imaging modality and body region imaged (using 0.026 mSv/mGy · cm for cardiac CT). 

    Results: Cumulative radiation dose was assessed in 2894 participants. Median effective dose was 3.0 mSv (IQR, 2.6-3.3 mSv) for coronary calcium scoring, 4.1 mSv (IQR, 2.6-6.1 mSv) for coronary CTA, 7.4 mSv (IQR, 6.2-8.5 mSv) for SPECT, and 4.1 mSv (IQR, 2.5-6.8 mSv) for ICA. After 5 years, total per-participant cumulative dose was higher in the CT group (median, 8.1 mSv; IQR, 5.5-12.4 mSv) compared with standard-care group (median, 0 mSv; IQR, 0-4.5 mSv; P < .001). In participants who underwent any imaging, cumulative radiation exposure was higher in the CT group (n = 1345; median, 8.6 mSv; IQR, 6.1-13.3 mSv) compared with standard-care group (n = 549; median, 6.4 mSv; IQR, 3.4-9.2 mSv; P < .001). 

    Conclusion: In the SCOT-HEART trial, the 5-year cumulative radiation dose from cardiac imaging was higher in the coronary CT angiography group compared with the standard-care group, largely because of the radiation exposure from CT. Clinical trial registration no. NCT01149590

    Original languageEnglish
    Article numbere221963
    Number of pages9
    JournalRadiology
    Volume308
    Issue number2
    Early online date1 Aug 2023
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Aug 2023

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging

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