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To the Editor: Drs Siegel and Evens¹ note that electron beam computed tomography (EBCT) is being used to diagnose atherosclerosis. However, their statement, "At best, however, there is only a moderate correlation between the quantity of calcification and the presence of stenosis and its severity," is incorrect. The reference for this statement is Fiorino's review of EBCT and coronary calcium.² However, the correlation of coronary calcium with angiographic stenosis is substantial in studies of EBCT,^3-5 with r values ranging from 0.85 to 0.96 (P<.001 for both values).

Fiorino's article was based on a MEDLINE review of EBCT-related articles published from 1966 to 1997. His article notes that the reproducibility of calcium measurements by EBCT has been challenged, and elaborates on the potential shortcomings of EBCT for detecting coronary calcium, but he conspicuously avoids the pertinent positive conclusions made in these articles. Other experts believe that EBCT-detected coronary calcium . . . [Full Text of this Article]