Coronary Calcification

Measurements of the per cent of the surface with calcified lesions have been made for the three main coronary arteries from 1,242 consecutive necropsies of whites and Negroes between the ages of 30 to 69 years. Calcified lesions were most prevalent and most extensive in the left anterior descending branch and occurred with greatest frequency at 2 to 3 cm. from the orifice. Whites had greater involvement than Negroes and males had greater involvement than females. Prevalence and extent of calcification have been compared in four cause-of-death or disease categories; cases dying of coronary heart disease had greater involvement than the other three groups. The prevalence of ischemic myocardial lesions, complicated coronary lesions, or stenotic lesions was greater for cases with calcified lesions, and this prevalence increases with increase in extent of calcified lesions. The significance of the presence of coronary calcified lesions for the diagnosis of advanced coronary atherosclerosis is greatest for younger individuals.