To compare the accuracy of visual and quantitative estimation of coronary angiograms we studied 114 coronary artery stenosis in 62 patients who underwent percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) before and after dilatation. Before PTCA the visual estimate of the mean percentage of stenosis severity was 77.2% (SD + 10.1%) which was significantly higher than the value, obtained with quantitative angiography -71.8% (SD 8.8%) (p < 0.01). Immediately after PTCA the visual estimate of the mean residual stenosis was 18.3% (SD + 10.4%), which was significantly lower, than value from quantitative angiography -23.3% (SD + 10.6%) (p < 0.01). The visual estimation of coronary artery stenosis provides quick and inexpensive data which are not accurate in comparison with data from quantitative angiography. Comparison of the visual and quantitative estimates of coronary angiography before PTCA showed visual overestimation of the severity of stenosis. Immediately after PTCA most visual estimates showed an underestimation of the lesion. Thus, the only visual interpretation of the severity of the coronary artery stenosis before and after PTCA leads to optimistic assessment of primary success of the procedure. Quantitative angiography provides more accurate data, but has some limitations, discussed in the paper.

Keywords: Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; Coronary Angiography; Coronary Disease /diagnostic imaging/; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged