Thoracic Quantitative Computed Tomography (QCT) Can Sensitively Monitor Bone Mineral Metabolism: Comparison of Thoracic QCT vs Lumbar QCT and Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry in Detection of Age-relative Change in Bone Mineral Density.

Rationale And Objective: Sensitive detection of bone mineral density (BMD) change is a key issue to monitor and evaluate the individual bone health status, as well as bone metabolism and bone mineral status. The ability to use thoracic quantitative computed tomography (QCT) to detect the annual change of BMD remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the sensitivity in detecting age-related bone mineral loss using the thoracic QCT from the electrocardiographically gated heart scans in comparison to whole-body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and standard lumbar QCT.

Trabecular bone mineral density measurement using thoracic and lumbar quantitative computed tomography.

Purpose: To evaluate the agreement of bone mineral density (BMD) between lumbar (L) and individual thoracic (T) vertebrae and identify a standard thoracic spine level for BMD assessment in cardiac computed tomography (CT) images.

Materials And Methods: Three hundred subjects who underwent simultaneous chest and abdomen CT scans for clinical indications were included. A calibration phantom that extended from the first thoracic spine (T(1)) to the fifth lumbar (L(5)) was employed.

Coronary calcium test phantom containing true CaHA microspheres for evaluation of advanced CT calcium scoring methods.

Background: Test phantoms with simulated micro-calcifications of true calcium hydroxyapatite (CaHA) density were not available to validate advanced calcium scoring methods or plaque density measurements.

Objectives: We evaluated a coronary calcium scoring (CCS) test phantom containing very small CaHA microspheres and validated a new scoring method for measurements of plaque densities.

Methods: The semianthropomorphic CCS phantom was constructed with CaHA microspheres (volumes, 0.

Measurement of thoracic bone mineral density with quantitative CT.

Purpose: To create standard thoracic bone mineral density (BMD) values for patients undergoing cardiac computed tomography (CT) by using thoracic quantitative CT and to compare these BMDs (in a subpopulation) with those obtained by using lumbar spine quantitative CT.

Materials And Methods: The institutional review board approved this HIPAA-compliant study. A total of 9585 asymptomatic subjects (mean age, 56 years; age range, 30-90 years) who underwent coronary artery calcium scanning, including 4131 women, were examined.

Comparison of coronary artery calcium scores between electron beam computed tomography and 64-multidetector computed tomographic scanner.

Objective: Because almost all data currently available with coronary calcium scanning are from electron beam tomography (EBT), we assessed whether scores obtained with 64-multidetector computed tomography (CT; MDCT) are similar. We evaluated the interscan variation in coronary artery calcium (CAC), Agatston score (AS), and volume score (VS) between EBT and 64-MDCT (VCT; GE, Milwaukee, Wis).

Materials And Methods: One hundred two patients (mean age, 61.

Multiphase contrast medium injection for optimization of computed tomographic coronary angiography.

Rationale And Objectives: Electron beam angiography is a minimally invasive imaging technique. Adequate vascular opacification throughout the study remains a critical issue for image quality. We hypothesized that vascular image opacification and uniformity of vascular enhancement between slices can be improved using multiphase contrast medium injection protocols.

Coronary venous imaging with electron beam computed tomographic angiography: three-dimensional mapping and relationship with coronary arteries.

Background: The coronary venous system can provide vascular access for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Visualization of the coronary veins and their relationship to other cardiac structures may play an important role in facilitating these procedures. We sought to assess the ability of electron beam computed tomographic angiography (EBCTA) to characterize 3-dimensional (3-D) coronary venous anatomy.

Comparison of coronary artery calcium screening image quality between C-150 and e-Speed electron beam scanners.

Rationale And Objective: The newest generation of electron beam tomographic scanner (e-Speed) has increased spatial and temporal resolution compared with the C-150 XP scanner. The aim of this study was to evaluate coronary artery calcium screening image quality between the e-Speed and C-150 scanners (GE Imatron, San Francisco, CA).

Materials And Methods: Studies from 41 patients (14 women and 27 men) who underwent serial coronary artery calcium screening with the C-150 (first study) and the e-Speed (second study) were analyzed.

Methodology for improved detection of coronary stenoses with computed tomographic angiography.

Background: Noninvasive angiography is a promising technique for visualization of the coronary lumen; however, current methodologies lead to limited accuracy. We assessed the accuracy of electron beam computed tomographic angiography (EBA) for detection of coronary stenoses, using improved triggering techniques and thinner slice collimation.

Methods: Eighty-six patients with suspected coronary disease were studied with EBA and conventional invasive coronary angiography.

Baseline heart rate-adjusted electrocardiographic triggering for coronary artery electron-beam CT angiography.

Conventional electrocardiographic (ECG) triggering (group 1, 53 patients) was compared with baseline heart rate-adjusted ECG triggering (group 2, 54 patients) for coronary artery electron-beam computed tomographic (CT) angiography. CT angiographic data sets were compared blindly with conventional angiograms according to segment. Nonassessability of coronary artery segments was reduced from 35% in group 1 to 13% in group 2 (P < .

Improved accuracy of noninvasive electron beam coronary angiography.

Objectives: We investigated the effect of electrocardiographic (ECG) triggering on the accuracy of coronary electron-beam angiography (EBA) as compared with invasive angiography.

Methods: One hundred thirty-three patients with suspected coronary disease were studied with intravenous coronary EBA and conventional coronary angiography. Patients were divided into 2 groups based upon ECG triggering on the EBA study.

Comparison of LV mass and volume measurements derived from electron beam tomography using cine imaging and angiographic imaging.

Purpose: To estimate the variation of left ventricular (LV) mass and volume measurement with cine and angiography by electron beam tomography (EBT).

Method And Materials: Sixty-three consecutive patients (41 men, 22 women; age range 46-91) referred for cardiac imaging for clinical indications underwent cine and coronary artery electron beam angiography (EBA) studies on the same day. The cine images consisted of 144 images (12 slices/level x 12 levels), taken 12 frames/s for a full cardiac cycle.

Sensitivity to detect small coronary artery calcium lesions with varying slice thickness using electron beam tomography.

Rationale And Objective: To estimate the sensitivity to find small coronary artery calcium lesions with use of different slice widths with electron beam tomography.

Materials And Methods: Two studies were performed. Study 1 utilized double scanning of a stationary cork phantom with three different slice thickness (1.

Ability of calibration phantom to reduce the interscan variability in electron beam computed tomography.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that a calibration phantom would improve interpatient and interscan variability in coronary artery calcium (CAC) studies.

Methods: We scanned 144 patients twice with or without the calibration phantom and then scanned 93 patients with a single calcific lesion twice and, finally, scanned a cork heart with calcific foci.

Results: There were no linear correlations in computed tomography Hounsfield unit (CT HU) and CT HU interscan variation between blood pool and phantom plugs at any slice level in patient groups (p > 0.

EKG-triggered CT data acquisition to reduce variability in coronary arterial calcium score.

Purpose: To test the hypothesis that computed tomographic (CT) scanning during optimal electrocardiographic (EKG) triggering can minimize image motion artifact and reduce interexamination variation of coronary arterial calcification (CAC) score at electron-beam CT.

Materials And Methods: Two hundred patients underwent electron-beam CT once and again 5 minutes later to evaluate interexamination variability of CAC score. Group 1 (104 patients) underwent scanning with use of an optimal EKG-triggering protocol (EKG triggering performed individually at the time of least coronary arterial motion during the cardiac cycle); group 2 (96 patients) underwent scanning with use of conventional 80% R-R interval triggering (the most common protocol with the electron-beam CT scanner).

Causes of interscan variability of coronary artery calcium measurements at electron-beam CT.

Rationale And Objectives: The authors performed this study to investigate the causes of interscan variability of coronary artery calcium measurements at electron-beam computed tomography (CT).

Materials And Methods: Two sets of electron-beam CT scans were obtained in 298 consecutive patients who underwent electron-beam CT to screen for coronary artery calcium. Interscan variations of coronary artery calcium characteristics and the effects of heart rate, electrocardiographic (ECG) triggering method, image noise, and coronary motion on interscan variability were analyzed.