Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 3 complete abstracts (699 words), 9 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
Radiography of the vascular system of the heart muscle after injection of a contrast medium.
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Angiography, Coronary; Angiographies, Coronary; Coronary Angiographies.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Cardiac Imaging Techniques; Angiography; Heart Function Tests
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 80,686 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Coronary Angiography” (counts retrieved 2026-11-04). 15,620 of them (19.4%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is 2010-2019 with 27,673 records.
Reviews account for 6,505 records (8.1%) and meta-analyses for 867. Randomized controlled trials number 4,584 (5.7%) as a share of all records on the topic.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 17,891 |
| 2000-2009 | 19,502 |
| 2010-2019 | 27,673 |
| 2020 onward | 15,620 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 6,505 | 8.1% |
| Meta-analyses | 867 | 1.1% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 4,584 | 5.7% |
Method: PubMed query "Coronary Angiography"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-11-04.
Reading the evidence in diagnostics and medical technology
A test or device is judged by how well it detects a condition, how often it gives false alarms or misses cases, and whether using it improves outcomes for people. Accuracy depends on who is tested and how common the condition is, so a test that performs well in a specialist hospital can perform differently in the community. Check the reference standard, the population studied, the sensitivity and specificity and whether results were confirmed in a separate group.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
| Study / authors | Year | Source label / design | Europe PMC citations | Licence / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coronary function testing vs angiography alone to guide treatment of angina with non-obstructive coronary arteries: the ILIAS ANOCA trial | 2025 | Randomized controlled trial Design not recorded in structured metadata | 28 | cc by PMID 40796241 · DOI · PMC12596479 |
| Ultra-high resolution photon-counting detector coronary CT angiography: diagnostic accuracy in patients with high Agatston scores | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 7 | cc by PMID 41266671 · DOI · PMC13086694 |
| Cardiac CT in the era of artificial intelligence: precision imaging, treatment guidance and optimised risk stratification for coronary artery disease | 2025 | Review article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 4 | cc by PMID 41238351 · DOI · PMC12625954 |
Coronary function testing vs angiography alone to guide treatment of angina with non-obstructive coronary arteries: the ILIAS ANOCA trial [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Background and aimsInvasive coronary function testing (CFT) identifies coronary vasomotor disorders in up to 90% of patients with angina with non-obstructive coronary arteries (ANOCA).
- Closing excerpt
- Implementing a pragmatic CFT protocol combined with a disease-specific treatment protocol significantly improved disease-related quality of life in patients with ANOCA compared with standard care.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (287 words)
Background and aimsInvasive coronary function testing (CFT) identifies coronary vasomotor disorders in up to 90% of patients with angina with non-obstructive coronary arteries (ANOCA). The ILIAS ANOCA trial hypothesized that routine ad hoc CFT would be feasible, safe, and effective in providing an early, comprehensive diagnosis. Additionally, it was anticipated that combining CFT with a disease-specific treatment protocol would significantly improve quality of life in ANOCA patients compared with standard care.MethodsAfter excluding patients with obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) during clinically indicated invasive coronary angiography (ICA), eligible patients underwent CFT and were randomized to either the standard care group, where CFT results remained blinded, or the intervention group, where CFT results were disclosed along with a tailored medical therapy protocol. The primary outcome was the mean difference in the within-subject change in Seattle Angina Questionnaire summary score (SAQSS) between groups from baseline to a follow-up of 6 months. The trial is registered with the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (NL-OMON20739).ResultsA total of 255 patients consented, of whom 153 patients (60%) without CAD underwent CFT and were randomized 1:1 to the standard care (n = 76) or intervention group (n = 77). All CFT procedures were successful without adverse events. A vasomotor disorder was identified in 120 patients (78%). At 6-month follow-up, the SAQSS improved significantly in the intervention group compared with the control group, with an intervention effect of 9.4 units (95% confidence interval 3.9-14.9, P = .001). There were no major adverse cardiac events at the 6-month follow-up.ConclusionsRoutine CFT during the initial ICA was feasible, safe, and had high diagnostic yield. Implementing a pragmatic CFT protocol combined with a disease-specific treatment protocol significantly improved disease-related quality of life in patients with ANOCA compared with standard care.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 40796241 · DOI · PMC12596479
Ultra-high resolution photon-counting detector coronary CT angiography: diagnostic accuracy in patients with high Agatston scores [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- ObjectivesSevere coronary artery calcification leads to blooming artifacts in conventional coronary CT angiography (CCTA), which may reduce diagnostic accuracy.
- Closing excerpt
- Clinical relevance Ultra-high resolution coronary CT angiography enables accurate noninvasive detection of stenoses in heavily calcified vessels, potentially reducing invasive coronary angiography.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (313 words)
ObjectivesSevere coronary artery calcification leads to blooming artifacts in conventional coronary CT angiography (CCTA), which may reduce diagnostic accuracy. Ultra-high resolution (UHR) photon-counting detector CT (PCD-CT) reduces calcium blooming. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of UHR CCTA with PCD-CT for detecting coronary stenoses in patients with a high coronary calcium burden compared to invasive coronary angiography (ICA).Materials and methodsIn this IRB-approved single-center study, patients with Agatston scores > 600 were included, who underwent ICA and coronary UHR PCD-CT angiography within 2 months. 94% of patients underwent CT prior to transcatheter aortic valve replacement. Coronary arteries were graded for diameter stenosis severity (> 50, > 70%) by two blinded, independent readers. Accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of CCTA were calculated using ICA as the reference standard. Subgroup analyses were performed across Agatston score groups (600-999, 1000-1999, 2000-2999, and > 3000).Results62 patients (mean age, 76 ± 9 years, 16 women) were included. The median Agatston score was 2423 (IQR: 1085-3340). Across all Agatston categories, CCTA demonstrated high diagnostic accuracy and strong agreement with ICA (Cohen's kappa 0.71-1.00). In patients with Agatston scores > 3000 (n = 18), the diagnostic performance of coronary UHR PCD-CT angiography for detecting > 50% (sensitivity 92-100%, specificity 83-100%) and > 70% diameter stenosis (sensitivity 88-100%, specificity 89-100%) remained high for both readers. There was no correlation between the Agatston score and diagnostic error (p > 0.05).ConclusionUHR CCTA with PCD-CT provides high diagnostic performance even in patients with extensive coronary calcifications.Key pointsQuestion In patients with severe coronary calcification, conventional coronary CT angiography often suffers from blooming artifacts, reducing accuracy and causing unnecessary invasive procedures. Findings Ultra-high resolution coronary angiography with photon-counting detector CT showed high sensitivity and specificity for detecting stenoses, even at Agatston scores > 3000. Clinical relevance Ultra-high resolution coronary CT angiography enables accurate noninvasive detection of stenoses in heavily calcified vessels, potentially reducing invasive coronary angiography.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 41266671 · DOI · PMC13086694
Cardiac CT in the era of artificial intelligence: precision imaging, treatment guidance and optimised risk stratification for coronary artery disease [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Coronary artery disease (CAD) remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and CT imaging plays a crucial role in its diagnosis and management.
- Closing excerpt
- This review summarises recent advances in these AI applications, aiming to promote their practical adoption and further development.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (99 words)
Coronary artery disease (CAD) remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and CT imaging plays a crucial role in its diagnosis and management. However, the clinical use of CT is limited by factors, such as suboptimal image quality, diagnostic complexity and the labour-intensive nature of parameter evaluation. Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly transforming many areas of medicine. Its integration into CAD CT imaging can enhance image postprocessing, streamline anatomical and functional analyses, support treatment planning and improve risk prediction. This review summarises recent advances in these AI applications, aiming to promote their practical adoption and further development.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 41238351 · DOI · PMC12625954
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article Radial versus femoral access for coronary angiography or intervention and the impact on major bleeding and ischemic events: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials [4]
- Research article An Update on Radial Artery Access and Best Practices for Transradial Coronary Angiography and Intervention in Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association [5]
- Research article 64-Slice computed tomography angiography in the diagnosis and assessment of coronary artery disease: systematic review and meta-analysis [6]
- Research article Prognostic value of cardiac computed tomography angiography: a systematic review and meta-analysis [7]
- Research article Coronary atherosclerosis imaging by coronary CT angiography: current status, correlation with intravascular interrogation and meta-analysis [8]
- Research article 64-multislice detector computed tomography coronary angiography as potential alternative to conventional coronary angiography: a systematic review and meta-analysis [9]
References
- Boerhout CKM, Namba HF, Liu T, Beijk MAM, Damman P, Meuwissen M, et al.. Coronary function testing vs angiography alone to guide treatment of angina with non-obstructive coronary arteries: the ILIAS ANOCA trial. . 2025. PMID 40796241 · DOI · PMC12596479
- Demmert TT, Klambauer K, Moser LJ, Michel J, Kasel M, Manka R, et al.. Ultra-high resolution photon-counting detector coronary CT angiography: diagnostic accuracy in patients with high Agatston scores. . 2026. PMID 41266671 · DOI · PMC13086694
- Zhong Z, Dai X, Yu L, Yu Y, Yuan J, Xu Y, et al.. Cardiac CT in the era of artificial intelligence: precision imaging, treatment guidance and optimised risk stratification for coronary artery disease. . 2025. PMID 41238351 · DOI · PMC12625954
- Jolly SS, Amlani S, Hamon M, Yusuf S, Mehta SR. Radial versus femoral access for coronary angiography or intervention and the impact on major bleeding and ischemic events: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials. Am Heart J. 2009. PMID 19081409 · DOI
- Mason PJ, Shah B, Tamis-Holland JE, Bittl JA, Cohen MG, Safirstein J, et al.. An Update on Radial Artery Access and Best Practices for Transradial Coronary Angiography and Intervention in Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. Circ Cardiovasc Interv. 2018. PMID 30354598 · DOI
- Mowatt G, Cook JA, Hillis GS, Walker S, Fraser C, Jia X, et al.. 64-Slice computed tomography angiography in the diagnosis and assessment of coronary artery disease: systematic review and meta-analysis. Heart. 2008. PMID 18669550 · DOI
- Hulten EA, Carbonaro S, Petrillo SP, Mitchell JD, Villines TC. Prognostic value of cardiac computed tomography angiography: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2011. PMID 21145688 · DOI
- Voros S, Rinehart S, Qian Z, Joshi P, Vazquez G, Fischer C, et al.. Coronary atherosclerosis imaging by coronary CT angiography: current status, correlation with intravascular interrogation and meta-analysis. JACC Cardiovasc Imaging. 2011. PMID 21565743 · DOI
- Abdulla J, Abildstrom SZ, Gotzsche O, Christensen E, Kober L, Torp-Pedersen C. 64-multislice detector computed tomography coronary angiography as potential alternative to conventional coronary angiography: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur Heart J. 2007. PMID 17981829 · DOI
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-11-04; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-11-04.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.