Preprocedural cardiac computed tomography versus transesophageal echocardiography for planning left atrial appendage occlusion procedures.

The heterogeneous anatomy of the left atrial appendage (LAA) necessitates preprocedural imaging essential for planning of percutaneous LAA occlusion (LAAO) procedures. While transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE) remains the gold standard, cardiac computed tomography (CT) is becoming increasingly popular. To address the lack of consensus on the optimal imaging modality, we compared the outcomes of preprocedural TOE versus CT for LAAO procedure planning.

Severe Aortic Valvular Incompetence From IgG4-Related Disease: An Unusual Entity.

IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a new clinical entity characterized by lymphoplasmacytic lesions rich in IgG4-positive plasma cells. Myocardial involvement is extremely rare and not a typical cardiovascular manifestation of IgG4-RD. We report a rare case of IgG4-RD-associated myocardial mass causing severe aortic incompetence, successfully treated with surgery and corticosteroids.

Correlating Ex Vivo Carotid Calcification Measurements With Cerebrovascular Symptoms: A Proof-of-Concept Study.

Background And Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the ability of ex vivo derived Agatston, Volume, and Density-Volume calcium scores or calcium density measurements to differentiate between carotid plaques based on preoperative cerebrovascular symptomatology.

Methods: Thirty-eight carotid plaques were acquired from standard endarterectomy. Micro-computed tomography was performed on the ex vivo samples.

Comparative analysis of calcification parameters with Agatston Score approximations for ex vivo atherosclerotic lesions.

Background: The Agatston Calcium Score is a predictor of major adverse cardiovascular events but it is unable to identify high-risk lesions. Recent research suggests that examining calcification phenotype could be more indicative of plaque stability.

Objective: To examine the Agatston score's ability to determine atherosclerotic calcification phenotype.

Relating the mechanical properties of atherosclerotic calcification to radiographic density: A nanoindentation approach.

Calcification morphology can determine atherosclerotic plaque stability and is associated with increased failures rates for endovascular interventions. Computational efforts have sought to elucidate the relationship between calcification and plaque rupture in addition to predicting tissue response during aggressive revascularisation techniques. However, calcified material properties are currently estimated and may not reflect real tissue conditions.

On the influence of wall calcification and intraluminal thrombus on prediction of abdominal aortic aneurysm rupture.

Objective: Parameters other than maximum diameter that predict rupture of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) may be helpful for risk-benefit analysis in individual patients. The aim of this study was to characterize the biomechanical-structural characteristics associated with AAA walls to better identify the related mechanistic variables required for an accurate prediction of rupture risk.

Methods: Anterior AAA wall (n = 40) and intraluminal thrombus (ILT; n = 114) samples were acquired from 18 patients undergoing open surgical repair.

An appraisal of the computed axial tomographic appearance of the human mesentery based on mesenteric contiguity from the duodenojejunal flexure to the mesorectal level.

Objective: The human mesentery is now regarded as contiguous from the duodenojejunal (DJ) to anorectal level. This interpretation prompts re-appraisal of computed tomography (CT) images of the mesentery.

Methods: A digital model and reference atlas of the mesentery were generated using the full-colour data set of the Visible Human Project (VHP).

Coronary artery imaging with single-source rapid kilovolt peak-switching dual-energy CT.

Purpose: To evaluate beam-hardening (BH) artifact reduction in coronary computed tomography (CT) angiography with dual-energy CT, to define the optimal monochromatic-energy levels for coronary and myocardial signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) in dual-energy CT, and to compare these levels with single-energy CT.

Materials And Methods: The study was approved by the institutional review board and/or ethics committee at each site. Patients provided informed consent.

Effect of a novel vendor-specific motion-correction algorithm on image quality and diagnostic accuracy in persons undergoing coronary CT angiography without rate-control medications.

Background: Although coronary CT angiography (CTA) shows high diagnostic performance for detection and exclusion of obstructive coronary artery disease, limited temporal resolution of current-generation CT scanners may allow for motion artifacts, which may result in nonevaluable coronary segments.

Objective: We assessed a novel vendor-specific motion-correction algorithm for its effect on image quality and diagnostic accuracy.

Methods: Thirty-six consecutive patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing coronary CTA without rate control and invasive coronary angiography as part of an evaluation for transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

Rapid automated measurement of body fat distribution from whole-body MRI.

Objective: The purpose of this article is to determine the feasibility of using computer-assisted diagnosis (CAD) techniques to automatically identify, localize, and measure body fat tissue from a rapid whole-body MRI examination.

Conclusion: Whole-body MRI in conjunction with CAD allows a fast, automatic, and accurate approach to body fat measurement and localization and can be a useful alternative to body mass index. Whole-body fat analysis can be achieved in less than 5 min.