Combination of computed tomography angiography with coronary artery calcium score for improved diagnosis of coronary artery disease: a collaborative meta-analysis of stable chest pain patients referred for invasive coronary angiography.

Objectives: Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) has higher diagnostic accuracy than coronary artery calcium (CAC) score for detecting obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with stable chest pain, while the added diagnostic value of combining CCTA with CAC is unknown. We investigated whether combining coronary CCTA with CAC score can improve the diagnosis of obstructive CAD compared with CCTA alone.

Methods: A total of 2315 patients (858 women, 37%) aged 61.

Management of life-threatening deformation of obstructive transcatheter mitral valve replacement bioprosthesis with balloon inflation in left ventricular outflow tract: a case report.

Background: Left ventricular outflow track (LVOT) obstruction (LVOTO) is a severe complication of transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) procedures, with an uncertain prognosis and only few strategies available to prevent its occurrence. TMVR is thus contraindicated in some patients because of a high risk of LVOTO onset. We demonstrate how LVOTO can be managed with a balloon inflation in the LVOT and a D-shaped deformation of the bioprosthetic valve.

Computed tomography angiography versus Agatston score for diagnosis of coronary artery disease in patients with stable chest pain: individual patient data meta-analysis of the international COME-CCT Consortium.

Objectives: There is conflicting evidence about the comparative diagnostic accuracy of the Agatston score versus computed tomography angiography (CTA) in patients with suspected obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD).

Purpose: To determine whether CTA is superior to the Agatston score in the diagnosis of CAD.

Methods: In total 2452 patients with stable chest pain and a clinical indication for invasive coronary angiography (ICA) for suspected CAD were included by the Collaborative Meta-analysis of Cardiac CT (COME-CCT) Consortium.

Single-source dual energy CT to assess myocardial extracellular volume fraction in aortic stenosis before transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).

Purpose: To assess myocardial extracellular volume fraction (ECV) measurement provided by a single-source dual-energy computed tomography (SSDE-CT) acquisition added at the end of a routine CT examination before transcatether aortic valve implantation (TAVI) compared to cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Materials And Methods: Twenty-one patients (10 men, 11 women; mean age, 86±4.9 years [SD]; age range: 71-92 years) with severe aortic stenosis underwent standard pre-TAVI CT with additional cardiac SSDE-CT acquisition 7minutes after intravenous administration of iodinated contrast material and myocardial MRI including pre- and post-contrast T1-maps.