Increased Pericardial Adipose Tissue in Smokers.

Background: Pericardial adipose tissue (PAT), a visceral fat depot directly located to the heart, is associated with atherosclerotic and inflammatory processes. The extent of PAT is related to the prevalence of coronary heart disease and might be used for cardiovascular risk prediction. This study aimed to determine the effect of smoking on the extent of PAT.

Distribution of coronary calcifications in patients with suspected coronary heart disease.

Background: Coronary calcifications are a marker of coronary atherosclerosis. The role of coronary calcium scoring (CS) as part of the initial evaluation of patients with suspected coronary heart disease (CHD) is controversially discussed. The primary goal of this study was to characterize the coronary calcium distribution in this particular patient population.

Use of multi-slice computed tomography in patients with chest-pain submitted to the emergency department.

This study evaluates calcium scoring (CS) and computed tomography angiography (MSCTA) in patients >50 years with chest-pain submitted to the emergency department utilising CS as a "diagnostic filter" upfront. Results of CS and MSCTA performed by a 64-slice CT scanner were compared to invasive coronary angiography (ICA). 289 consecutive symptomatic patients (185 men, mean age 71.

CT stress perfusion imaging for detection of haemodynamically relevant coronary stenosis as defined by FFR.

Objectives: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy (DA) of CT-myocardial perfusion imaging (CT-MPI) and a combined approach with CT angiography (CTA) for the detection of haemodynamically relevant coronary stenoses in patients with both suspected and known coronary artery disease.

Design: Prospective, non-randomised, diagnostic study.

Setting: Academic hospital-based study.

Increased pericardial adipose tissue is correlated with atrial fibrillation and left atrial dilatation.

Introduction: Pericardial adipose tissue (PAT), a visceral fat depot surrounding the heart, serves as an endocrine active organ and is associated with inflammation. There is growing evidence that atrial fibrillation (AF) is linked with inflammation, which in turn can be a promoter of left atrial remodeling. The aim of this study was to evaluate a potential correlation of PAT to AF and left atrial structural remodeling represented by LA size.

Lipoprotein (a) is independently correlated with coronary artery calcification.

Introduction: Lipoprotein a (Lp(a)) has been recognized as a risk factor for both coronary heart diseases and for cardiovascular events. Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is a well proven marker for coronary artery disease and risk factor for cardiovascular events. Still there are conflicting data regarding the relationship of Lp(a) and CAC.

Detection of significant coronary artery stenosis with cardiac dual-source computed tomography angiography in heart transplant recipients.

Present study evaluates clinical feasibility of cardiac dual-source computed tomography angiography (DSCTA) to detect significant coronary stenosis because of chronic allograft vasculopathy (CAV) after heart transplantation (HTX). An overall of 51 consecutive heart transplant recipients (43 men, 8 women, mean age: 52.3 ± 13.

Feasibility and radiation dose of high-pitch acquisition protocols in patients undergoing dual-source cardiac CT.

Objective: The objective of this study was to compare image quality and radiation dose between high-pitch and established retrospectively and prospectively gated cardiac CT protocols using an Alderson-Rando phantom and a set of patients.

Materials And Methods: An anthropomorphic Alderson-Rando phantom equipped with thermoluminiscent detectors and a set of clinical patients underwent the following cardiac CT protocols: high-pitch acquisition (pitch 3.4), prospectively triggered acquisition, and retrospectively gated acquisition (pitch 0.

Dual energy CT of the chest: how about the dose?

Objective: New generation Dual Source computed tomography (CT) scanners offer different x-ray spectra for Dual Energy imaging. Yet, an objective, manufacturer independent verification of the dose required for the different spectral combinations is lacking. The aim of this study was to assess dose and image noise of 2 different Dual Energy CT settings with reference to a standard chest scan and to compare image noise and contrast to noise ratios (CNR).

Systolic acquisition of coronary dual-source computed tomography angiography: feasibility in an unselected patient population.

Objective: To determine the practicability and potential dose saving of an imaging algorithm incorporating a pulsing scheme applying systolic data acquisition at heart rates >75 beats per minute (bpm).

Methods: Patients clinically referred for coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) underwent cardiac CTA using either a diastolic pulsing window (30-70%) or a narrow systolic pulsing window (150 ms at 300 ms). Independent investigators retrospectively determined image quality (1, excellent, to 5, unreadable) and derived effective radiation exposure.

Saving dose in triple-rule-out computed tomography examination using a high-pitch dual spiral technique.

Objective: High radiation doses remain a drawback of current triple-rule-out computed tomography (CT) protocols. With dual source CT, a new high-pitch dual spiral technique offers the possibility to acquire an Electrocardiography (ECG)-gated-synchronized dataset of the whole chest in less than 1 second. The aim of this study was to compare the dose of such a protocol to a standard, nongated chest scan and to a conventional, retrospectively ECG-gated triple-rule-out protocol.