Treatment-Related Changes in Left Atrial Structure in Atrial Fibrillation: Findings From the CABANA Imaging Substudy.

[Figure: see text].

Measurements of the left atrium and pulmonary veins for analysis of reverse structural remodeling following cardiac ablation therapy.

Rationale And Objectives: Geometric analysis of the left atrium and pulmonary veins is important for assessing reverse structural remodeling following cardiac ablation therapy. Most volumetric analysis techniques, however, require laborious manual tracing of image cross-sections. Pulmonary vein diameters are typically measured at the junction between the left atrium and pulmonary veins, called the pulmonary vein ostia, with manually drawn lines on volume renderings or in image slices.

A novel application of CT angiography to detect extracoronary vascular abnormalities in patients with spontaneous coronary artery dissection.

Background: Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is associated with extracoronary vascular abnormalities, which depending on type and location may warrant treatment or provide additional diagnostic or prognostic information about this uncommon entity. Fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD), aneurysms, and dissections have been detected in multiple vascular territories by magnetic resonance angiography, CT angiography (CTA), and catheter angiography. The optimal modality to detect extracoronary vascular abnormalities is unknown.

Multimodality imaging of a giant aortic valve papillary fibroelastoma.

Papillary fibroelastomas (PFEs) are benign cardiac tumors arising from endocardium. They are commonly found on valvular surfaces and average 1.0-1.

Centerline tracking for quantification of reverse structural remodeling of the pulmonary veins following cardiac ablation therapy.

Rationale And Objectives: Patients with atrial fibrillation undergo structural remodeling resulting in increased pulmonary vein sizes. Studies have demonstrated that these changes are reversible following successful ablation therapy. To date, analyses of pulmonary vein structure have focused on measurements at the pulmonary vein ostia, and the full extent of reverse remodeling along the length of the pulmonary veins has not yet been fully characterized.

MR imaging findings in 76 consecutive surgically proven cases of pericardial disease with CT and pathologic correlation.

To describe findings of patients with surgically confirmed pericardial disease on state of the art MR sequences. Retrospective review was performed for patients who underwent pericardiectomy and preoperative MR over a 5 year period ending in 2009. Patients' records were reviewed to confirm the diagnosis of chronic recurrent pericarditis, constrictive pericarditis, or pericardial tumor.

Computed tomography of cardiac pseudotumors and neoplasms.

Important features of cardiac masses can be clearly delineated on cardiac computed tomography (CT) imaging. This modality is useful in identifying the presence of a mass, its relationship with cardiac and extracardiac structures, and the features that distinguish one type of mass from another. A multimodality approach to the evaluation of cardiac tumors is advocated, with the use of echocardiography, CT imaging and magnetic resonance imaging as appropriately indicated.

Computed tomographic coronary artery calcium assessment for evaluating chest pain in the emergency department: long-term outcome of a prospective blind study.

Objective: To determine the long-term outcome of computed tomographic (CT) quantification of coronary artery calcium (CAC) used as a triage tool for patients presenting with chest pain to an emergency department (ED).

Patients And Methods: Patients (men aged 30-62 years and women aged 30-65 years) with chest pain and low-to-moderate probability of coronary artery disease underwent both conventional ED chest pain evaluation and CT CAC assessment prospectively. Patients' physicians were blinded to the CAC results.

Lipoma causing upper extremity deep vein thrombosis: a case report.

We report a case of lipoma in the right infraclavicular and axillary area compressing subclavian vein there by presenting with upper extremity deep venous thrombosis (UEDVT) and persistent symptoms of venous congestion. Patient was also found to be a heterozygous carrier of prothrombin 20210 gene mutation. Surgical excision of lipomatous tissue performed after 6 months of anticoagulation resulted in a complete resolution of symptoms.

Apical ballooning syndrome or aborted acute myocardial infarction? Insights from cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging.

Introduction: Apical Ballooning Syndrome (ABS) is a novel acute cardiac syndrome that mimics acute myocardial infarction (AMI). This study evaluates the diagnostic utility of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) in patients with suspected ABS.

Methods And Materials: Contrast-enhanced CMR was performed in 13 consecutive patients with suspected ABS on the basis of their initial clinical presentation and cardiac catheterization results.

MR imaging of cardiac masses.

Cardiac MR imaging is the preferred method for assessment of cardiac masses. A comprehensive cardiac MR imaging examination for a cardiac mass consists of static morphologic images using fast spin-echo sequences, including single-shot techniques, with T1 and T2 weighting and fat suppression pulses as well as dynamic imaging with cine steady-state free precession techniques. Further tissue characterization is provided with perfusion and delayed enhancement imaging.

ECG-gated cardiac CT angiography using 64-MDCT for detection of patent foramen ovale.

Objective: The purpose of our study was to show the feasibility of ECG-gated, 64-MDCT cardiac angiography for the detection of patent foramen ovale (PFO).

Materials And Methods: Chart review was performed on 214 consecutive patients referred for clinically indicated 64-MDCT angiography. The study cohort consisted of 20 patients who had previously undergone transesophageal echocardiography (TEE).

Abnormal electron beam computed tomography results: the value of repeating myocardial perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography in the ongoing assessment of coronary artery disease.

Objective: To determine whether asymptomatic patients with atherosclerosis, indicated by the presence of coronary artery calcium on electron beam computed tomography, are at enough risk for progression of disease to justify a repeated stress single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) examination after an initial normal to low-risk perfusion study.

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively identified patients who had abnormal results on electron beam computed tomography (coronary artery calcium score > 0) and normal to low-risk results on SPECT (defined as a summed stress score of 0-3) within a 3-month period from January 1, 1995, to October 31, 2002. Of the 504 identified patients, 285 remained after exclusion criteria were applied.

Relationship and prognostic value of coronary artery calcification by electron beam computed tomography to stress-induced ischemia by single photon emission computed tomography.

Background: Stress single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) is commonly performed in patients with abnormal electron beam computed tomography (EBCT) to define risk stratification, but the published prognostic data for patients undergoing both SPECT and EBCT are limited. The objective of the study was to examine the association and prognostic value between EBCT, coronary artery calcium score (CACS), and stress SPECT imaging.

Methods: We identified 835 patients (age 54.

Assessment of pulmonary thromboendarterectomy by tomographic electrocardiogram-gated equilibrium radionuclide angiocardiography compared with electron beam computed tomography.

Background: Successful thromboendarterectomy for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension promptly improves right ventricular (RV) function by decreasing RV volume and increasing ejection fraction (EF). Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) equilibrium radionuclide angiocardiography (ERNA) has been validated as a measure of RV and left ventricular (LV) volume and EF.

Methods And Results: Nine patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension underwent electron beam computed tomography (EBCT) and SPECT ERNA cardiac studies before and after thromboendarterectomy.

Comparison of surgical septal myectomy and alcohol septal ablation with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy.

Objectives: This study sought to describe the acute morphologic differences that result from septal myectomy and alcohol septal ablation using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging.

Background: Surgical septal myectomy and alcohol septal ablation relieve left ventricular outflow tract obstruction in severely symptomatic patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).

Methods: Cine and contrast-enhanced CMR images were obtained in HCM patients before and after septal myectomy (n = 24) and alcohol septal ablation (n = 24).

Aortic valve calcification: determinants and progression in the population.

Background: Aortic valve calcification (AVC) is considered degenerative. Recent data suggested links to atherosclerosis or coronary disease (CAD).

Methods And Results: AVC and coronary artery calcifications (CAC) were prospectively assessed by Electron-Beam-Computed-Tomography in 262 population-based research participants > or = 60 years.

Relationship between coronary artery calcification detected by electron-beam computed tomography and abnormal stress echocardiography: association and prognostic implications.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare the results and prognostic value of electron-beam computed tomography (EBCT) and exercise echocardiography.

Background: Although patients with elevated coronary artery calcium scores (CACS) might be referred for exercise echocardiography, the association of EBCT CACS with wall motion score index (WMSI) is not known.

Methods: Patients without known coronary artery disease who underwent both clinically indicated EBCT and exercise echocardiography within a 3-month period were identified.