Comprehensive Explanation: The Coronary Artery Disease – Reporting and Data System (CAD-RADS) is a standardized reporting framework for Coronary CT Angiography (CCTA) established by the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography (SCCT) and the American College of Radiology (ACR). It categorizes the severity of coronary artery stenosis and provides consistent recommendations for patient management. Normal Values:
- CAD-RADS 0 indicates no coronary atherosclerosis;
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CAD-RADS 1–2 corresponds to non-obstructive disease (<50% stenosis);
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CAD-RADS 3–5 indicates progressively higher levels of obstruction requiring further testing or invasive angiography. Clinical Significance: CAD-RADS improves interobserver consistency, communication between radiologists and cardiologists, and facilitates clinical decision-making based on stenosis severity and plaque morphology. Interpretation Summary:
- CAD-RADS 0–2: Continue risk factor modification.
- CAD-RADS 3: Consider ischemia testing.
- CAD-RADS 4–5: Refer for invasive coronary angiography.
Modifiers (e.g., H = high-risk plaque, S = stent, G = graft) provide further clinical nuance. References:
1. Cury RC, Abbara S, Achenbach S, et al. CAD-RADS™ 2.0 – 2022 Coronary Artery Disease Reporting and Data System: An Expert Consensus Document of SCCT, ACR, and NASCI. J Cardiovasc Comput Tomogr. 2022;16(5):344–374.
2. Abbara S, et al. SCCT Guidelines for Coronary CT Angiography Performance and Acquisition. J Cardiovasc Comput Tomogr. 2016;10(6):435–449.
3. Earls JP, et al. Standardized Reporting Systems in Cardiac Imaging. Radiographics. 2019;39(1):76–87.