©The Author(s) 2017. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Nephrol. May 6, 2017; 6(3): 100-110
Published online May 6, 2017. doi: 10.5527/wjn.v6.i3.100
Published online May 6, 2017. doi: 10.5527/wjn.v6.i3.100
Role of different imaging modalities of vascular calcification in predicting outcomes in chronic kidney disease
Sinee Disthabanchong, Sarinya Boongird, Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10310, Thailand
Author contributions: Disthabanchong S contributed 50% and Boongird S contributed 50% and to this review.
Conflict-of-interest statement: Authors declare no conflict of interests for this article.
Correspondence to: Sinee Disthabanchong, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, 270 Rama VI Rd, Bangkok 10310, Thailand. sineemd@hotmail.com
Telephone: +66-2-2011116 Fax: +66-2-2011400
Received: January 28, 2017
Peer-review started: February 8, 2017
First decision: March 7, 2017
Revised: March 27, 2017
Accepted: April 18, 2017
Article in press: April 19, 2017
Published online: May 6, 2017
Processing time: 95 Days and 18.6 Hours
Peer-review started: February 8, 2017
First decision: March 7, 2017
Revised: March 27, 2017
Accepted: April 18, 2017
Article in press: April 19, 2017
Published online: May 6, 2017
Processing time: 95 Days and 18.6 Hours
Core Tip
Core tip: Vascular calcification (VC) is common among patients with chronic kidney disease. VC is observed in arteries of all sizes. Several imaging techniques have been utilized in the evaluation of VC. Plain radiographs are simple, readily available and can somewhat differentiate between intimal and medial calcification. Mammography detects medial calcification and is especially useful among women. Ultrasonography is suitable for superficial arteries. Analyses of wall thickness and lumen size are possible. Computed tomography, the gold standard, is the most sensitive technique and offers the most accurate analysis of the severity and progression of VC.