Receiver operating characteristic curves for predicting all coronary heart disease (CHD) events (left) and hard CHD events (right) with calcium coverage score (CCS), Agatston score and mass score, with adjustments for age and sex. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUCs) are shown. P values for the difference between AUC for the CCS and AUC for the Agatston and mass scores when predicting all CHD events were .003 and .006, respectively. P values for the difference between AUC for the CCS and the Agatston and mass scores when predicting all CHD events were .076 and .081, respectively.
(Radiology 2008; 247:669–678) © RSNA, 2008. All rights reserved. Printed with permission.

Researchers have developed a new calcium scoring method for cardiac CT that may identify coronary heart disease risk better than Agatston or mass scores. Elizabeth R. Brown, Sc.D., of the University of Washington in Seattle, and colleagues proposed and examined a new algorithm called the calcium coverage score (CCS), which defines the proportion of coronary arteries affected by calcific plaque. The researchers found that a twofold increase in CCS was associated with a 52 percent increase in cardiovascular events.

CCS demonstrated that the spatial distribution, as well as the amount, of calcified plaque contributes to coronary heart disease risk. Individual scores highly correlated with hypertension, dyslipidemia and diabetes, "even when adjusting for the Agatston or mass scores, suggesting further that there is information in this new score about calcific plaques in the coronary arteries that is not captured by the Agatston or mass scores," the researchers write. They conclude that combining measurements of calcium burden with those of calcium location may help physicians better classify patients according to coronary heart disease risk and improve individual treatment strategies.

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Media Coverage of Radiology

In April, media outlets carried 217 news stories generated by articles appearing in Radiology. These stories reached an estimated 184 million people.

News releases promoted findings from a study on the use of MR imaging to predict outcomes in patients who undergo external-beam radiation therapy for prostate cancer (Radiology 2008;247:141-146) and a study on the use of perfusion-weighted MR imaging to predict malignant transformation of low-grade gliomas (Radiology 2008:247:170-178).

Print coverage included The Star-Ledger (Newark, N.J.), Diagnostic Imaging, Biophotonics International, Georgia Family Magazine, Science Letter, Drug Week, Life Science Weekly, Clinical Oncology Week and Health and Medicine Week. Broadcast coverage included Ivanhoe Broadcast News.

Web placements included Yahoo! News, Forbes.com, MSN.com, USNews.com, Healthcentral.com and Washingtonpost.com.

June Outreach Activities Focus on Breast and Head Imaging

In June, RSNA' 60-Second Checkup radio program focuses on the importance of screening mammography, screening for breast cancer in high-risk women and imaging to evaluate sports-related head injuries in children.