Abdominal Computed Tomography Angiography at 80kV: feasibility study.

Purpose: preliminary evaluation of different dose reduction algorithms in abdominal Computed Tomography Angiography (CTA) with standard scan protocols at 120kV vs. 80kV.

Materials And Methods: prospective, randomized, crossover study.

Under-reporting of cardiovascular findings on chest CT.

Purpose: It is unclear whether (and, to what extent) radiologists look at and report cardiovascular abnormalities on non-cardio-synchronized standard chest computed tomography (CT). In this study, the frequency and the reporting rate of cardiovascular findings in chest CT examinations were retrospectively assessed.

Materials And Methods: This study was approved by the institutional review board of each participating center.

Collateral non cardiac findings in clinical routine CT coronary angiography: results from a multi-center registry.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of collateral findings detected in computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) in a multi-center registry.

Materials And Methods: We performed a retrospective review of 4303 patients (2719 males, mean age 60.3 ± 10.

Coronary CT angiography using iterative reconstruction vs. filtered back projection: evaluation of image quality.

Objectives: To compare image quality of iterative reconstruction algorithm(IRIS) vs. standard filtered back projection(FBP) reconstruction in CT Coronary Angiography (CTCA).

Materials And Methods: Thirty-four consecutive patients underwent CTCA for suspected or known CAD with Dual-Source CT (DSCT-Flash, Siemens).

Carotid intima media thickness and coronary atherosclerosis linkage in symptomatic intermediate risk patients evaluated by coronary computed tomography angiography.

Background: There is a growing evidence that carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) is associated with coronary artery disease (CAD) and it should be used as a predictor of atherosclerotic burden of coronary arteries. However, these studies have been performed by using invasive coronary angiography (ICA) and in high-risk patients for CAD. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the correlation between CIMT by ultrasound and coronary atherosclerosis in symptomatic intermediate risk patients by coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA).

Coronary artery calcium score on low-dose computed tomography for lung cancer screening.

Aim: To evaluate the feasibility of coronary artery calcium score (CACS) on low-dose non-gated chest CT (ngCCT).

Methods: Sixty consecutive individuals (30 males; 73 ± 7 years) scheduled for risk stratification by means of unenhanced ECG-triggered cardiac computed tomography (gCCT) underwent additional unenhanced ngCCT. All CT scans were performed on a 64-slice CT scanner (Somatom Sensation 64 Cardiac, Siemens, Germany).

Cardiac magnetic resonance in cocaine-induced myocardial damage.

A 54-year-old male with history of cocaine abuse underwent trans-thoracic echocardiography that showed hyper-echogenicity of the basal segments of the septum and infero-lateral wall of the left ventricle. The patient underwent cardiac CT that reported diffuse non-obstructive CAD. Cardiac MR showed LGE patterns consistent with non-ischemic myocardial damage associated with cocaine abuse.

The impact of training on diagnostic accuracy with computed tomography coronary angiography.

Aim: The aim of this study is to assess the image quality and diagnostic accuracy of computed tomography (CT) coronary angiography (CTCA) in different hospital settings with the same trained team.

Materials And Methods: Four hundred patients were consecutively enrolled for CTCA in a large academic hospital (Group 1; Sensation 64 Cardiac, Siemens - Iomeprol 400, Bracco; 200 patients) and in a small local hospital (Group 2; VCT, GE Healthcare - Iodixanol 320, GE Healthcare; 200 patients). All patients were enrolled for suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) and patients with stents or who had previously undergone coronary bypass were excluded.

Rationale, design and methods of CTCA-PRORECAD (Computed Tomography Coronary Angiography Prognostic Registry for Coronary Artery Disease): a multicentre and multivendor registry.

Purpose: This study was done to assess the prognostic value of computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) in a large multicentre population of patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) and, in particular, its incremental value compared with traditional methods for risk stratification.

Materials And Methods: This is a retrospective observational study that began in January 2003 conducted on patients with suspected CAD assessed with CTCA on the basis of symptoms (chest pain, dyspnoea) and/or abnormal or equivocal stress test and/or a high cardiovascular risk profile. The participating centres will provide data obtained with CTCA performed with 16-slice or higher equipment.

CT coronary angiography at an ultra-low radiation dose (<0.1 mSv): feasible and viable in times of constraint on healthcare costs.

Computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) has reached very high standards both in terms of diagnostic performance and radiation dose reduction. This commentary follows a report on CTCA using less than 0.1 mSv in selected patients.

Plaque imaging with CT coronary angiography: Effect of intra-vascular attenuation on plaque type classification.

Aim: To assess the attenuation of non-calcified atherosclerotic coronary artery plaques with computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA).

Methods: Four hundred consecutive patients underwent CTCA (Group 1: 200 patients, Sensation 64 Cardiac, Siemens; Group 2: 200 patients, VCT GE Healthcare, with either Iomeprol 400 or Iodixanol 320, respectively) for suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). CTCA was performed using standard protocols.

Diagnostic accuracy of second-generation dual-source computed tomography coronary angiography with iterative reconstructions: a real-world experience.

Purpose: The authors evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of second-generation dual-source (DSCT) computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) with iterative reconstructions for detecting obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD).

Materials And Methods: Between June 2010 and February 2011, we enrolled 160 patients (85 men; mean age 61.2±11.

Classification of noncalcified coronary atherosclerotic plaque components on CT coronary angiography: impact of vascular attenuation and density thresholds.

Purpose: The authors assessed the effect of vascular attenuation and density thresholds on the classification of noncalcified plaque by computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA).

Materials And Methods: Thirty patients (men 25; age 59 ± 8 years) with stable angina underwent arterial and delayed CTCA. At sites of atherosclerotic plaque, attenuation values (HU) were measured within the coronary lumen, noncalcified and calcified plaque material and the surrounding epicardial fat.

Role of virtual colonoscopy following incomplete optical colonoscopy: our experience.

Aim: To evaluate the role of Computed Tomography Colonography (CTC) in patients who failed an Optical Colonoscopy (OC).

Patients And Methods: Sixtyeight patients (48 female, 20 male; mean age 60,4 years) with a previous incomplete OC underwent CTC.

Results: A complete CTC examination was achieved in all 68 patients.

Computed tomography coronary angiography in asymptomatic patients.

Purpose: This study assessed the accuracy of computed tomography coronary angiography (CT-CA) for detecting significant coronary artery disease (CAD; ≥50% lumen reduction) in intermediate/high-risk asymptomatic patients.

Materials And Methods: A total of 183 consecutive asymptomatic individuals (92 men; mean age 54±11 years) with more than one major risk factor (obesity, hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolaemia, family history, smoking) and an inconclusive or nonfeasible noninvasive stress test result (stress electrocardiography, stress echocardiography, nuclear stress scintigraphy) underwent CT-CA in an outpatient setting. All patients underwent conventional coronary angiography (CAG) within 4 weeks.

Diagnostic accuracy of 64-slice computed tomography coronary angiography in a large population of patients without revascularisation: registry data on the comparison between male and female population.

Purpose: This study was undertaken to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) for detecting significant coronary artery stenosis (≥50% lumen reduction) compared with conventional coronary angiography (CAG) in a male and female population.

Material And Methods: A total of 1,372 patients (882 men, 490 women; mean age 59.3 ± 11.

Computed tomography coronary angiography in the selection of outlier patients: a feasibility report.

Purpose: This study evaluated criteria, presence and distribution of outlier patients by means of computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) in a large institutional database.

Material And Methods: From a population of 2,881 consecutive patients (1,842 men, mean age 62 ± 13 years) in sinus rhythm who underwent CTCA, we extracted data on patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). We selected patient outliers in the fifth and sixth decades of life with the following criteria: ≥ 3 risk factors and absence of CAD, zero to one risk factors and ≥ 5 diseased coronary segments.

Diagnostic accuracy of 64-slice computed tomography coronary angiography in a large population of patients without revascularisation: registry data in NSTEMI acute coronary syndrome and influence of gender and risk factors.

Purpose: This study sought to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) for detecting significant coronary artery stenosis (≥50% lumen reduction) compared with conventional coronary angiography (CAG) in non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction-acute coronary syndrome (NSTEMI-ACS) and in subgroups selected by gender and number of risk factors (RF).

Materials And Methods: We selected from a population of 1,500 patients in a multicentre registry with NSTEMI-ACS who had undergone CTCA and CAG, (n=237; 187 men, mean age 63±10 years). Diagnostic accuracy and likelihood ratios (LR) of CTCA were assessed against CAG in the total population and subgroups (men, women: 0 RF = absence of RF, 1-2 RF = presence of one or two RF, >2 RF = presence of more than two RF).

Diagnostic accuracy of 64-slice computed tomography coronary angiography in a large population of patients without revascularisation: registry data on the impact of calcium score.

Purpose: This study evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) for detecting significant coronary artery stenosis (≥50% lumen reduction) at different coronary calcium score (CACS) values with conventional coronary angiography (CAG) as the reference standard.

Material And Methods: A total of 1,500 patients (928 men, mean age 58.2±12.

Prognostic value of CT coronary angiography: focus on obstructive vs. nonobstructive disease and on the presence of left main disease.

Purpose: The authors investigated the prognostic value of computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) for major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in patients with suspected or known coronary artery disease (CAD), with particular focus on left main (LM) disease and obstructive vs. nonobstructive disease.

Materials And Methods: A total of 727 consecutive patients (485 men, age 62 ± 11 years) with suspected (514; 70.

Low dose CT of the heart: a quantum leap into a new era of cardiovascular imaging.

In 10 years, computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) has shifted from an investigational tool to clinical reality. Even though CT technologies are very advanced and widely available, a large body of evidence supporting the clinical role of CTCA is missing. The reason is that the speed of technological development has outpaced the ability of the scientific community to demonstrate the clinical utility of the technique.

A bullet wandering through the heart.

We report a case of young male with a penetrating chest trauma due to a gunshot. The bullet was detected by conventional X-ray and localized within the lateral wall of the left ventricle by CT. During surgery the bullet was not found.