Assessing the Role of Pericardial Fat as a Biomarker Connected to Coronary Calcification-A Deep Learning Based Approach Using Fully Automated Body Composition Analysis.

(1) Background: Epi- and Paracardial Adipose Tissue (EAT, PAT) have been spotlighted as important biomarkers in cardiological assessment in recent years. Since biomarker quantification is an increasingly important method for clinical use, we wanted to examine fully automated EAT and PAT quantification for possible use in cardiovascular risk stratification. (2) Methods: 966 patients with intermediate Framingham risk scores for Coronary Artery Disease referred for coronary calcium scans were included in clinical routine retrospectively.

Coronary artery calcium score: influence of the reconstruction interval on cardiac risk stratification in asymptomatic patients using dual-source computed tomography.

Purpose: To evaluate the impact of the reconstruction interval on coronary calcium score and cardiac risk stratification using dual-source computed tomography (DSCT).

Materials And Methods: DSCT coronary calcium scoring was performed in 61 consecutive patients, and five data sets per patient were reconstructed within diastole (50 - 70 % of the R-R interval). The Agatston score, volumetric score and the relative variability were assessed for all reconstructions.

Right ventricular involvement in acute left ventricular myocardial infarction: prognostic implications of MRI findings.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence and prognostic importance of the cardiac MRI finding of right ventricular involvement in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (MI).

Subjects And Methods: Fifty patients (41 men, nine women; mean age, 58 +/- 11 years) with first-ST-segment elevation MI underwent 1.5-T cardiac MRI immediately after successful percutaneous coronary intervention.

Dobutamine stress cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging in patients after invasive coronary revascularization with stent placement.

Background: High-dose dobutamine stress magnetic resonance (DSMR) is a well-established imaging technique for the detection of coronary artery disease (CAD).

Purpose: To investigate the value of DSMR for the detection of in-stent restenoses (ISR) in patients with prior coronary stenting, using invasive coronary angiography (ICA) as the standard of reference.

Material And Methods: 50 patients with 74 stents and without wall motion abnormalities at rest were examined on a 1.

Comparison of aortic valve area measured by magnetic resonance imaging and dual-source computed tomography.

Background: Aortic valve stenosis is the most common type of valve lesion in Europe and North America. Patient treatment is based on disease severity, which is classified by determining the aortic valve area (AVA).

Purpose: To compare dual-source computed tomography (DSCT) with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging for quantifying AVA.

Relation of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and infarct size as assessed by contrast-enhanced MRI.

Background: Plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) measured in acute coronary syndromes independently predicts mortality, myocardial infarction and congestive heart failure.

Objectives: To investigate the relationship between the extent of delayed enhancement (DE) and microvascular obstruction (MO) in contrast-enhanced MRI and the plasma level of BNP in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Methods: The study group consisted of 41 consecutive patients (26 males, mean age 57±11 years) with a first STEMI and complete reperfusion by primary PCI.

Assessment of left ventricular function and mass in dual-source computed tomography coronary angiography: influence of beta-blockers on left ventricular function: comparison to magnetic resonance imaging.

Purpose: To quantify left ventricular (LV) function and mass (LVM) derived from dual-source computed tomography (DSCT) and the influence of beta-blocker administration compared to cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR).

Methods: Thirty-two patients undergoing cardiac DSCT and CMR were included, where of fifteen received metoprolol intravenously before DSCT. LV parameters were calculated by the disc-summation method (DSM) and by a segmented region-growing algorithm (RGA).

Prognostic impact of contrast-enhanced CMR early after acute ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in a regional STEMI network: results of the "Herzinfarktverbund Essen".

Background And Purpose: In acute ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), rapid restoration of epicardial coronary blood flow and myocardial perfusion limits infarct size and improves survival. Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is superior to systemic fibrinolysis when instantly performed by experienced operators. The "Herzinfarktverbund Essen" (HIVE) is an urban STEMI network supporting direct patient transfer for primary PCI to four PCI centers covering a city area of 600,000 inhabitants.

Quantification of aortic valve stenosis in MRI-comparison of steady-state free precession and fast low-angle shot sequences.

We compared two different magnetic resonance (MR) sequences [steady-state free precession (SSFP) and gradient echo fast low-angle shot (FLASH)] for the assessment of aortic valve areas in aortic stenosis using transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) as the standard of reference. Thirty-two patients with known aortic stenosis underwent MR (1.5 T) using a cine SSFP sequence and a cine FLASH sequence.

[Detection and characterization of left ventricular thrombi by MRI compared to transthoracic echocardiography].

Purpose: Transthoracic echocardiography is the routine diagnostic procedure in assessing patients with left ventricular thrombi, but is limited by the acoustic window and poor contrast between thrombus and adjacent myocardium. This study evaluates the role of cardiac MRI in the detection of left ventricular thrombi in patients with chronic myocardial infarction compared to standard transthoracic echocardiography.

Materials And Methods: In 82 patients (55 men and 27 women, age 36 to 79 years, median 59 +/- 11 years) who suffered a myocardial infarction more than 6 months earlier, transthoracic echocardiography and MRI were performed.

Imaging of myocardial perfusion with magnetic resonance.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is currently the leading cause of death in developed nations. Reflecting the complexity of cardiac function and morphology, noninvasive diagnosis of CAD represents a major challenge for medical imaging. Although coronary artery stenoses can be depicted with magnetic resonance (MR) and computed tomography (CT) techniques, its functional or hemodynamic impact frequently remains elusive.

[Comparison of gradient-echo and steady state free precession sequences for 3D-navigator MR angiography of coronary arteries].

Aim: Purpose of our study was to compare the image quality of 3D-navigator steady state free precession (SSFP) and gradient echo (GE) sequences for magnetic resonance coronary angiography (MRCA) in volunteers and patients.

Methods: Following informed consent 8 volunteers and 12 patients were included into this study. In all subjects a 3D navigator MRCA of the right and the left coronary artery was performed with a SSFP (TR 3.

[Comparison of dobutamine-stress magnetic resonance imaging and dipyridamole-TL-201-SPECT as alternative strategies for the detection of coronary artery dis in patients no suitable for stress echocardiography].

Aim: During the past decade stress-echocardiography has gained increasing popularity for detection of myocardial ischemia in patients with coronary artery disease. However, about 10% to 15% of the patients submitted for stress-echocardiography do not have an adequate acoustic window. The purpose of this study was to compare high-dose dobutamine-stress magnetic resonance imaging (dobutamine-MRI) with dipyridamole-Tl-201-SPECT (dipyridamole-SPECT) as alternative strategies for detection of myocardial ischemia in patients with inadequate image quality by stress-echocardiography.

Magnetic resonance pharmacological stress for detecting coronary disease. Comparison with echocardiography.

Stress testing is the cornerstone in the diagnosis of patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). Although exercise ECG remains the primary approach for the detection of ischemia in patients with chest pain syndromes, its sensitivity and specificity is limited and exercise ECG does not provide detailed information about the localisation and extent of CAD. Stress echocardiography has been used for the detection of ischemia for more than a decade and has become an increasingly popular noninvasive method for the detection of CAD.

[Clinical value of magnetic resonance tomography in imaging coronary stenoses. A comparison with coronary angiography and myocardial scintigraphy].

Background And Objective: The development of ultra-rapid gradient-echo sequence magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) makes it possible to visualize coronary arteries. But the clinical value of coronary artery MRI (MRCA) still needs to be established. It was the aim of this study to determine whether MRCA can demonstrate proximal parts of the coronary arteries and visualize haemodynamically relevant stenoses.

MRI assessment of coronary artery disease.

With the application of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in clinical cardiology, important tools have been added to the currently available techniques for the evaluation of coronary artery disease (CAD). Technical advantages of MRI in comparison to established imaging techniques are the excellent spatial resolution, the characterization of myocardial tissue and the potential to acquire a three dimensional set of data. This allows the accurate assessment of left ventricular mass and volume and the determination of systolic wall thickening and wall motion abnormalities.

Artificial widening of the mediastinum to gain access for extrapleural biopsy: clinical results.

Purpose: To assess the utility of artificial widening of the extrapleural space to gain an extrapleural biopsy access route to the anterior and posterior mediastinum.

Materials And Methods: The authors retrospectively analyzed the findings in 20 patients who underwent biopsy of mediastinal masses after dilation of the extrapleural space with injection of approximately 20 mL of physiologic saline solution. The solution was injected to provide ventral (n = 6) or dorsal (n = 14) extrapleural access to the mediastinum.

Artificial displacement of kidneys, spleen, and colon by injection of physiologic saline and CO2 as an aid to percutaneous procedures: experimental results.

Purpose: To determine whether displacement of the kidneys, spleen, or bowel with injection of fluids or CO2 can be used to create a direct and potentially safer access route to the retroperitoneum for large-bore needle biopsy or abscess drainage.

Materials And Methods: In cadavers (n = 24), the kidneys were displaced laterally by means of computed tomography (CT)-guided paravertebral injection of 120 mL of physiologic saline solution (n = 18) and 120 cm3 of CO2 (n = 6). The spleen (n = 11) and retroperitoneal colon (n = 7) were also displaced with saline.

Distension of extrapleural spaces with contrast medium or air: value in creating safe percutaneous access to the mediastinum in cadavers.

Objective: We artificially widened the extrapleural space with contrast medium or air in 33 cadavers to create a safe extrapleural route to the anterior mediastinum and the posterior mediastinum for large-bore needle biopsies.

Material And Methods: Under CT guidance, 120 ml of diluted contrast medium (10%) or 300 ml of air was injected percutaneously into the right paravertebral (n = 23) and left retroaortic (n = 5) or ventral parasternal (n = 5) extrapleural spaces.

Results: In six of 18 cases, the paravertebral space was found to be wide enough to advance a 14-gauge cannula to the extrapleural paraesophageal space.