Evaluation of coronary in-stent restenosis by 64-slice computed tomography in patients with optimal heart rate control by systematic administration of beta-blocker drugs.

Background: Imaging artifacts due to metallic stent struts can reduce the diagnostic accuracy of multislice computed tomography (MSCT) in the evaluation of in-stent restenosis (ISR). Our aim was to determine the accuracy of binary ISR exclusion using a 64-slice MSCT scanner and a systematic administration of beta-blockers having an aggressive heart rate (HR) control.

Methods: We performed 64-slice MSCT in 218 consecutive patients revascularized by stenting.

Revascularization strategy in patients with multivessel disease and a major vessel chronically occluded; data from the CABRI trial.

Objective: In patients with multivessel coronary artery disease and total occlusion of major epicardial vessel, completeness of revascularization has not been investigated in specific trials comparing the surgical and the percutaneous revascularization strategy. Analyzing the database of the CABRI study, which randomized a substantial number of these patients, we investigated the long-term effects of a successful or unsuccessful revascularization of the occluded vessel and completeness of the revascularization.

Methods And Results: The CABRI study randomized 1054 patients with multivessel coronary disease to coronary bypass or to coronary angioplasty.

In-stent restenosis and multislice computed tomography: is the method ready to start?

We present two patients revascularized by coronary stents and evaluated by multislice computed tomography (CT). In first patient, angio-CT (16 slices/rotation scanner) detected a high-grade restenosis on the distal part of a drug-eluting stent; conventional coronary angiography confirmed the diagnosis. In second patient, angio-CT (64 slices/rotation) showed a tissue proliferation, non-flow-limiting, in the proximal part of a bare metal stent; conventional angiography confirmed the diagnosis.

Accuracy of thin-slice computed tomography in the detection of coronary stenoses.

Aim: Our aim was to investigate the accuracy of multislice spiral computed tomography (MSCT) in the detection of significant (>50%) coronary stenosis using a scanner equipped for 16 x 0.625 mm collimation.

Methods: In 64 patients (59 male, mean age 58 +/- 5 years) with suspected coronary artery disease, MSCT (GE Light Speed-16, collimation: 16 x 0.

Limitations of four-slice multirow detector computed tomography in the detection of coronary stenosis.

Background: Our aim was to compare 4-slice spiral computed tomography with conventional coronary angiography in the detection of significant (> 50%) coronary stenosis.

Methods: Sixty-two patients (41 males, 21 females, mean age 60 +/- 8 years) with suspected coronary artery disease were submitted to coronary angiography and then to multislice spiral computed tomography (GE Light Speed 4 slice) performed 12 +/- 5 days later.

Results: We excluded 25% of the patients from analysis because of a heart rate > 70 b/min or because of frequent ectopic beats.