Project description:Coronary CT angiography (CCTA) demonstrated high diagnostic accuracy for detecting coronary artery disease (CAD) and a key role in the management of patients with low-to-intermediate pretest likelihood of CAD. However, the clinical information provided by this noninvasive method is still regarded insufficient in patients with diffuse and complex CAD and for planning percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and surgical revascularization procedures. On the other hand, technology advancements have recently shown to improve CCTA diagnostic accuracy in patients with diffuse and calcific stenoses. Moreover, stress CT myocardial perfusion imaging (CT-MPI) and fractional flow reserve derived from CCTA (CT-FFR) have been introduced in clinical practice as new tools for evaluating the functional relevance of coronary stenoses, with the possibility to overcome the main CCTA drawback, i.e. anatomical assessment only. The potential value of CCTA to plan and guide interventional procedures lies in the wide range of information it can provide: a) detailed evaluation of plaque extension, volume and composition; b) prediction of procedural success of CTO PCI using scores derived from CCTA; c) identification of coronary lesions requiring additional techniques (e.g., atherectomy and lithotripsy) to improve stent implantation success by assessing calcium score and calcific plaque distribution; d) assessment of CCTA-derived Syntax Score and Syntax Score II, which allows to select the mode of revascularization (PCI or CABG) in patients with complex and multivessel CAD. The aim of this Consensus Document is to review and discuss the available data supporting the role of CCTA, CT-FFR and stress CT-MPI in the preprocedural and possibly intraprocedural planning and guidance of myocardial revascularization interventions.
Project description:Therapy advice based on dual-source computed tomography (DSCT) in comparison with coronary angiography (CAG) was investigated and the results evaluated after 1-year follow-up. Thirty-three consecutive patients (mean age 61.9 years) underwent DSCT and CAG and were evaluated independently. In an expert reading (the "gold standard"), CAG and DSCT examinations were evaluated simultaneously by an experienced radiologist and cardiologist. Based on the presence of significant stenosis and current guidelines, therapy advice was given by all readers blinded from the results of other readings and clinical information. Patients were treated based on a multidisciplinary team evaluation including all clinical information. In comparison with the gold standard, CAG had a higher specificity (91%) and positive predictive value (PPV) (95%) compared with DSCT (82% and 91%, respectively). DSCT had a higher sensitivity (96%) and negative predictive value (NPV) (89%) compared with CAG (91% and 83%, respectively). The DSCT-based therapy advice did not lead to any patient being denied the revascularization they needed according to the multidisciplinary team evaluation. During follow-up, two patients needed additional revascularization. The high NPV for DSCT for revascularization assessment indicates that DSCT could be safely used to select patients benefiting from medical therapy only.
Project description:Stress cardiac MRI and stress computed tomography (CT) perfusion are relatively new, noninvasive cardiovascular stress-testing modalities. Both of these tests have undergone rapid technical improvements. Data from randomized controlled trials in stress cardiac MRI are becoming gradually incorporated into cardiovascular clinical practice, not only to assess physiological significance of coronary artery disease, but also to provide prognostic information. As CT perfusion protocols become more uniform with adequate handling of artifacts and decreasing radiation exposure with combined CT coronary angiography/CT perfusion imaging, it has the potential to become a comprehensive diagnostic test.
Project description:INTRODUCTION:Anatomic stenosis evaluation on coronary CT angiography (CCTA) lacks specificity in indicating the functional significance of a stenosis. Recent developments in CT techniques (including dual-layer spectral detector CT [SDCT] and static stress CT perfusion [CTP]) and image analyses (including fractional flow reserve [FFR] derived from CCTA images [FFRCT] and deep learning analysis [DL]) are potential strategies to increase the specificity of CCTA by combining both anatomical and functional information in one investigation. The aim of the current study is to assess the diagnostic performance of (combinations of) SDCT, CTP, FFRCT and DL for the identification of functionally significant coronary artery stenosis. METHODS AND ANALYSIS:Seventy-five patients aged 18 years and older with stable angina and known coronary artery disease and scheduled to undergo clinically indicated invasive FFR will be enrolled. All subjects will undergo the following SDCT scans: coronary calcium scoring, static stress CTP, rest CCTA and if indicated (history of myocardial infarction) a delayed enhancement acquisition. Invasive FFR of ≤0.80, measured within 30 days after the SDCT scans, will be used as reference to indicate a functionally significant stenosis. The primary study endpoint is the diagnostic performance of SDCT (including CTP) for the identification of functionally significant coronary artery stenosis. Secondary study endpoint is the diagnostic performance of SDCT, CTP, FFRCT and DL separately and combined for the identification of functionally significant coronary artery stenosis. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION:Ethical approval was obtained. All subjects will provide written informed consent. Study findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed conference presentations and journal publications. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER:NCT03139006; Pre-results.
Project description:BackgroundThe relationship between the characteristics of cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) leads and subclinical cardiac perforations remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the incidence of subclinical cardiac perforation among various CIED leads using cardiac computed tomography (CT).MethodsA total of 271 consecutive patients with 463 CIED leads, who underwent cardiac CT after CIED implantation, were included in this retrospective observational study. Cardiac CT images were reviewed by one radiologist and two cardiologists. Subclinical perforation was defined as traversal of the lead tip past the outer myocardial layer without symptoms and signs related to cardiac perforation. We compared the subclinical cardiac perforation rates of the available lead types.ResultsA total of 219, 49, and 3 patients had pacemakers, implantable cardioverter-defibrillators, and cardiac resynchronization therapy, respectively. The total subclinical cardiac perforation rate was 5.6%. Subclinical cardiac perforation by screw-in ventricular leads was significantly more frequent than that caused by tined ventricular leads (13.3% vs 3.3%, respectively, p = 0.002). There were no significant differences in the incidence of cardiac perforation between atrial and ventricular leads, screw-in and tined atrial leads, pacing and defibrillator ventricular leads, nor between magnetic resonance (MR)-conditional and MR-unsafe screw-in ventricular leads. Screw-in ventricular leads were significantly associated with subclinical cardiac perforation [odds ratio, 4.554; 95% confidence interval, 1.587-13.065, p = 0.005]. There was no case subclinical cardiac perforation by septal ventricular leads.ConclusionsSubclinical cardiac perforation by screw-in ventricular leads is not rare. Septal pacing may be helpful in avoiding cardiac perforation.
Project description:BackgroundCardiac events after revascularization are equally attributable to recurrence at site of culprit lesions and development of nonculprit lesions. We evaluated the hypothesis that coronary computed tomography (CT) angiography and coronary artery calcium score (CACS) performed before revascularization predicts cardiac events after treatment.Methods and resultsAmong 2238 consecutive patients without known coronary artery disease who underwent coronary CT angiography and CACS, 359 patients underwent revascularization within 30 days after CT; in 337 of 359 (93.9%) follow-up clinical information was available. In addition to known cardiac risk factors, CT findings were evaluated as predictors of cardiac events after revascularization: CACS and the presence of CT-verified high-risk plaque (CT-HRP). Improvement of predictive accuracy by including CT findings was evaluated from a discrimination (Harrell's C-statistics) standpoint. During the follow-up period (median: 673, interquartile range: 47 to 1529 days), a total of 98 cardiac events occurred. Cox proportional hazard model revealed that age, diabetes, triglyceride, CACS, and nonculprit CT-HRP were significant predictors of overall cardiac events. Although not statistically significant, discriminatory power was greater for the model with CACS (C-stat: 63.2%) and the model with both CACS and CT-HRP (65.8%) compared to the model including neither CACS nor CT-HRP (60.7%).ConclusionsHigh CACS and the presence of nonculprit CT-HRP performed before revascularization are significant predictors of cardiac events after revascularization.
Project description:Background:The treatment goal of Crohn's disease (CD) has moved towards achieving mucosal healing, resolution of transmural inflammation, and normalization of biomarkers. The purpose of this study was to evaluate how well computed tomography enterography (CTE) and fecal calprotectin (FC) correlated with endoscopic activity in newly diagnosed patients with CD and after 1 year of therapy. Methods:Consecutive patients with newly diagnosed CD were evaluated by endoscopy, CTE, and FC at diagnosis and 12 months after beginning immunosuppression. Endoscopic severity was assessed using the Simplified Endoscopic Score for Crohn's Disease (SES-CD). Biomarkers, clinical indexes, and FC were recorded on the day of ileocolonoscopy at diagnosis and 1 year after diagnosis. We adapted a CTE score for disease activity based on radiological signs of inflammation (i.e. mural thickness, mural hyperenhancement, mesenteric fat proliferation, mesenteric fat densification, comb sign, presence of strictures, fistulas, abscesses, ascites, and lymphadenopathy). Correlations between endoscopy, CTE, and FC were assessed using Spearman's rank correlation. Results:A total of 29 patients (48% women; median age 30 (24.5-35.5) years) were included in this prospective cohort. CTE findings significantly correlated with endoscopic findings. Endoscopic remission (ER) at 1-year follow up significantly correlated with improvement in mural hyperenhancement (p = 0.004), mesenteric fat densification (p = 0.001), comb sign (p = 0.004), and strictures (p = 0.008) in CTE. None of the CTE findings improved in patients without ER. FC correlated with SES-CD (rs = 0.696, p < 0.001) and with CTE features of inflammation (rs = 0.596, p < 0.001). A cut-off of 100 µg/g predicted ER with 92% sensitivity, 65% specificity, and 83% accuracy (area under curve 0.878, p < 0.001). Conclusions:CTE findings and FC levels correlated with endoscopic activity in CD both at diagnosis and at 1-year follow up. These two noninvasive markers of disease activity may be used as an alternative to endoscopy to monitor disease response to therapy.
Project description:Alterations at the level of the coronary circulation with aging may play an important role in the evolution of age-associated changes in left ventricular (LV) fibrosis and function. However these age-associated changes in the coronary vasculature remain poorly defined primarily due to the lack of high resolution imaging technologies. The current study was designed to utilize cardiac micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) technology as a novel imaging strategy, to define the 3-dimensional coronary circulation in the young and aged heart and its relationship to LV fibrosis and function.Young (2 months old; n=10) and aged (20 months old; n=10) Fischer rats underwent cardiac micro-CT imaging as well as echocardiography, blood pressure, and fibrosis analysis. Importantly, when indexed to LV mass, which increased with age, the total and intramyocardial vessel volumes were lower, whereas the epicardial vessel volume, with and without indexing to LV mass, was significantly higher in the aged hearts compared with the young hearts. Moreover, the aged hearts had a significantly lower percentage of intramyocardial vessel volume and a significantly higher percentage of epicardial vessel volume, when normalized to the total vessel volume, compared with the young hearts. Further, the aged hearts had significant LV fibrosis and mild LV dysfunction compared with the young hearts.This micro-CT imaging study reports the reduction in normalized intramyocardial vessel volume within the aged heart, in association with increased epicardial vessel volume, in the setting of increased LV fibrosis, and mild LV dysfunction.
Project description:Coronary artery disease (CAD) remains the leading cause of death and morbidity worldwide. To date, diagnostic evaluation of patients with suspected CAD has relied upon the use of physiologic non-invasive testing by stress electrocardiography, echocardiography, myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) and magnetic resonance imaging. Indeed, the importance of physiologic evaluation of CAD has been highlighted by large-scale randomized trials that demonstrate the propitious benefit of an integrated anatomic-physiologic evaluation method by performing lesion-specific ischemia assessment by fractional flow reserve (FFR)-widely considered the "gold" standard for ischemia assessment-at the time of invasive angiography. Coronary CT angiography (CCTA) has emerged as an attractive non-invasive test for anatomic illustration of the coronary arteries and atherosclerotic plaque. In a series of prospective multicenter trials, CCTA has been proven as having high diagnostic performance for stenosis detection as compared to invasive angiography. Nevertheless, CCTA evaluation of obstructive stenoses is prone to overestimation of severity and further, detection of stenoses by CCTA does not reliably determine the hemodynamic significance of the visualized lesions. Recently, a series of technological innovations have advanced the possibility of CCTA to enable physiologic evaluation of CAD, thereby creating the potential of this test to provide an integrated anatomic-physiologic assessment of CAD. These advances include rest-stress MPI by CCTA as well as the use of computational fluid dynamics to non-invasively calculate FFR from a typically acquired CCTA. The purpose of this review is to summarize the most recent data addressing these 2 physiologic methods of CAD evaluation by CCTA.