Moving towards a uniform diagnosis of coronary artery disease on coronary CTA : Coronary Artery Disease-Reporting and Data System 2.0.

The Coronary Artery Disease-Reporting and Data System (CAD-RADS) is a standardised reporting method which was created in order to improve communication with referring physicians as well as for management considerations. The CAD-RADS score denotes the absence or presence of stenosis, while plaque burden and potential modifiers provide insight into plaque extent and characteristics. The modifier ischaemia enables the incorporation of fractional flow reserve CT and CT perfusion, while the modifier exception is used to denote potential coronary abnormalities.

Association of Right Ventricular Functional Parameters With Adverse Cardiopulmonary Outcomes: A Meta-analysis.

Aims: We aimed to confirm that three-dimensional echocardiography-derived right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) is better associated with adverse cardiopulmonary outcomes than the conventional echocardiographic parameters.

Methods: We performed a meta-analysis of studies reporting the impact of unit change of RVEF, tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), fractional area change (FAC), and free-wall longitudinal strain (FWLS) on clinical outcomes (all-cause mortality and/or adverse cardiopulmonary outcomes). Hazard ratios (HRs) were rescaled by the within-study SDs to represent standardized changes.

Aortic calcification: A postmortem CT validation study in a middle-aged population.

Background: Computed tomography (CT)-detected aortic calcification is strongly associated with aortic stiffness and is an accurate predictor of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality and cognitive decline. Some previous pathologic studies have shown calcium accumulation in the medial layer of the vessel wall, while others have suggested localisation in the atherosclerotic intimal layer.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to histologically validate CT findings of aortic calcification for detectability and location in the aortic wall.

Central arterial pressure and patient-specific model parameter estimation based on radial pressure measurements.

One-dimensional arterial flow simulations are suitable to estimate the aortic pressure from peripheral measurements in a patient-specific arterial network. This study introduces a reduction of the system parameters, and a novel calculation method to estimate the patient-specific set and the aortic curve based on radial applanation tonometry. Peripheral and aortic pressure curves were measured in patients, optimization were carried out.

Radiography and Computed Tomography Detection of Intimal and Medial Calcifications in Leg Arteries in Comparison to Histology.

Calcifications are common in the tunica intima and tunica media of leg arteries. There is growing interest in medial arterial calcifications, as they may be modifiable with treatment. We aimed to investigate radiography and computed tomography (CT) for the detection and characterization of both types of arterial calcification in leg arteries in relation to histology.

Coronary Artery Calcification as a Marker for Coronary Artery Stenosis: Comparing Kidney Failure to the General Population.

Rationale & Objective: The presence of calcified plaques in the coronary arteries is associated with cardiovascular mortality and is a hallmark of chronic kidney failure, but it is unclear whether this is associated with the same degree of coronary artery stenosis as in patients without kidney disease. We compared the relationship of coronary artery calcification (CAC) and stenosis between dialysis patients and patients without chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Study Design: Observational cohort study.

Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors reduce myocardial infarct size in preclinical animal models of myocardial ischaemia-reperfusion injury: a meta-analysis.

Aims/hypothesis: Large cardiovascular outcome trials demonstrated that the cardioprotective effects of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors might reach beyond glucose-lowering action. In this meta-analysis, we sought to evaluate the potential infarct size-modulating effect of SGLT2 inhibitors in preclinical studies.

Methods: In this preregistered meta-analysis (PROSPERO: CRD42020189124), we included placebo-controlled, interventional studies of small and large animal models of myocardial ischaemia-reperfusion injury, testing the effect of SGLT2 inhibitor treatment on myocardial infarct size (percentage of area at risk or total area).

Determinants of F-NaF uptake in femoral arteries in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Background: The goal of this study was to investigate the potential determinants of F-NaF uptake in femoral arteries as a marker of arterial calcification in patients with type 2 diabetes and a history of arterial disease.

Methods And Results: The study consisted of participants of a randomized controlled trial to investigate the effect of vitamin K2 (NCT02839044). In this prespecified analysis, subjects with type 2 diabetes and known arterial disease underwent full body F-NaF PET/CT.

The Association Between Marital Status, Coronary Computed Tomography Imaging Biomarkers, and Mortality in a Lung Cancer Screening Population.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to elucidate the impact of being unmarried on coronary computed tomography (CT) imaging biomarkers and mortality in a lung cancer screening population.

Materials And Methods: In this retrospective case-control study, 5707 subjects (3777 married; mean age: 61.9±5.

Sex Differences in Coronary Artery and Thoracic Aorta Calcification and Their Association With Cardiovascular Mortality in Heavy Smokers.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate sex differences in the prevalence, extent, and association of coronary artery calcium (CAC) and thoracic aorta calcium (TAC) scores with cardiovascular mortality in a population eligible for lung screening.

Background: CAC and TAC scores derived from chest computed tomography (CT) might be useful biomarkers for individualized cardiovascular disease prevention and could be especially relevant in high-risk populations such as heavy smokers. Therefore, it is important to know the prevalence of arterial calcifications in male and female heavy smokers, and if there are differences in the predictive value calcifications carry.

Anatomical and Functional Computed Tomography for Diagnosing Hemodynamically Significant Coronary Artery Disease: A Meta-Analysis.

Objectives: This meta-analysis determined the diagnostic performance of coronary computed tomography (CT) angiography (CTA), CT myocardial perfusion (CTP), fractional flow reserve CT (FFR), the transluminal attenuation gradient (TAG), and their combined use with CTA versus FFR as a reference standard for detection of hemodynamically significant coronary artery disease (CAD).

Background: CTA provides excellent anatomic, albeit limited functional information for the evaluation of CAD. Recently, various functional CT techniques emerged to assess the hemodynamic consequences of CAD.

PET Molecular Targets and Near-Infrared Fluorescence Imaging of Atherosclerosis.

Purpose Of Review: With this review, we aim to summarize the role of positron emission tomography (PET) and near-infrared fluorescence imaging (NIRF) in the detection of atherosclerosis.

Recent Findings: F-FDG is an established measure of increased macrophage activity. However, due to its low specificity, new radiotracers have emerged for more specific detection of vascular inflammation and other high-risk plaque features such as microcalcification and neovascularization.

Experience With an On-Site Coronary Computed Tomography-Derived Fractional Flow Reserve Algorithm for the Assessment of Intermediate Coronary Stenoses.

Fractional flow reserve (FFR) derived from coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) is a new technique for the diagnosis of ischemic coronary artery stenoses. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of a novel on-site computed tomography-based fractional flow reserve algorithm (CT-FFR) compared with invasive FFR as the gold standard, and to determine whether its diagnostic performance is affected by interobserver variations in lumen segmentation. We enrolled 44 consecutive patients (64.

CT myocardial perfusion imaging: ready for prime time?

Unlabelled: The detection of functional coronary artery stenosis with coronary CT angiography (CCTA) is suboptimal. Additional CT myocardial perfusion imaging (CT-MPI) may be helpful to identify patients with myocardial ischaemia in whom coronary revascularization therapy would be beneficial. CT-MPI adds incremental diagnostic and prognostic value over obstructive disease on CCTA.

The effect of four-phasic versus three-phasic contrast media injection protocols on extravasation rate in coronary CT angiography: a randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: Contrast media (CM) extravasation is a well-known complication of CT angiography (CTA). Our prospective randomized control study aimed to assess whether a four-phasic CM administration protocol reduces the risk of extravasation compared to the routinely used three-phasic protocol in coronary CTA.

Methods: Patients referred to coronary CTA due to suspected coronary artery disease were included in the study.

Iterative model reconstruction reduces calcified plaque volume in coronary CT angiography.

Objective: To assess the impact of iterative model reconstruction (IMR) on calcified plaque quantification as compared to filtered back projection reconstruction (FBP) and hybrid iterative reconstruction (HIR) in coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA).

Methods: Raw image data of 52 patients who underwent 256-slice CTA were reconstructed with IMR, HIR and FBP. We evaluated qualitative, quantitative image quality parameters and quantified calcified and partially calcified plaque volumes using automated software.

Aortic root dimensions are predominantly determined by genetic factors: a classical twin study.

Objectives: Previous studies using transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) observed moderate heritability of aortic root dimensions. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) might provide more accurate heritability estimates. Our primary aim was to assess the heritability of the aortic root with CTA.

Prognostic Value of Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography in Patients With Diabetes: A Meta-analysis.

Objective: The usefulness of coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) for the evaluation of coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with diabetes is ambiguous. We therefore performed a meta-analysis of studies reporting event rates and hazard ratios (HR) to determine the prognostic value of CTA in this patient population.

Research Design And Methods: We searched PubMed and Embase up to November 2015.

Non-invasive and invasive imaging of vulnerable coronary plaque.

Vulnerable plaque is characterized by a large necrotic core and an overlying thin fibrous cap. Non-invasive imaging modalities such as computed tomography angiography (CTA) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) allow for the assessment of morphological plaque characteristics, while positron emission tomography (PET) enables the detection of metabolic activity within the atherosclerotic lesions. Invasive imaging modalities such as intravascular ultrasound (IVUS), optical-coherence tomography (OCT), and intravascular MRI (IV-MRI) display plaques at a high spatial resolution.

Use of Coronary Computed Tomographic Angiography Findings to Modify Statin and Aspirin Prescription in Patients With Acute Chest Pain.

Coronary CT angiography (CCTA) is used in patients with low-intermediate chest pain presenting to the emergency department for its reliability in excluding acute coronary syndrome (ACS). However, its influence on medication modification in this setting is unclear. We sought to determine whether knowledge of CCTA-based coronary artery disease (CAD) was associated with change in statin and aspirin prescription.

Defining the optimal systolic phase targets using absolute delay time for reconstructions in dual-source coronary CT angiography.

To define the optimal systolic phase for dual-source computed tomography angiography using an absolute reconstruction delay time after the R-R interval based on the coronary artery motion, we analyzed images reconstructed between 200 and 420 miliseconds (ms) after the R wave at 20 ms increments in 21 patients. Based on the American Heart Association coronary segmentation guidelines, the origin of six coronary artery landmarks (RCA, AM1, PDA, LM, OM1, and D2) were selected to calculate the coronary artery motion velocity. The velocity of the given landmark was defined as the quotient of the route and the length of the time interval.