Intracoronary thrombus assessment with cardiac computed tomography angiography in a deferred stenting strategy: the MATURE prospective study (MSCT to Assess ThrombUs REsolution).

Background: Cardiac computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is precise in noninvasive coronary atherosclerosis characterization but its value in the diagnosis of intracoronary thrombus remains unknown. Therefore, our aim was to evaluate CCTA for intracoronary thrombus and stenosis detection in patients with acute coronary syndromes with high thrombus burden selected for a deferred stenting strategy.

Methods: We systematically performed a CCTA in consecutive patients following a deferred stenting strategy, 24 h before the scheduled repeated coronary angiography including optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging.

Dynamic single gold nanoparticle visualization by clinical intracoronary optical coherence tomography.

The potential use of Gold Nanoparticles (GNPs) as contrast agents for clinical intracoronary frequency domain Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is here explored. The OCT contrast enhancement caused by GNPs of different sizes and morphologies has been systematically investigated and correlated with their optical properties. Among the different GNPs commercially available with plasmon resonances close to the operating wavelength of intracoronary OCT (1.

[State of the art: new developments in cardiac imaging].

Cardiac imaging continues to reveal new anatomical and functional insights into heart disease. In echocardiography, both transesophageal and transthoracic three-dimensional imaging have been fully developed and optimized, and the value of the techniques that have increased our understanding of cardiac mechanics and ventricular function is well established. At the same time, the healthcare industry has released new devices onto the market which, although they are easier to use, have limitations that restrict their use for routine assessment.

[Progress on cardiac imaging techniques].

The development of a noninvasive diagnostic test follows a typical timeline: description, enthusiasm, clinical assessment and application, and epidemiological study. However, for techniques such as echocardiography that are widely available, have no harmful effects and are inexpensive, clinical applications may become widespread before they have been evaluated. Real progress is being made with the use of new methodologies, such as myocardial deformation echocardiography and three-dimensional echocardiography.

[Update on cardiac imaging techniques: echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance and computed tomography].

This article contains a review of the most important contributions made by echocardiography, magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography to the field of cardiology in 2009. During this period, we helped establish values for myocardial deformation parameters in a number of different clinical settings that have enabled us to achieve better understanding of systolic and diastolic function in both ventricles. Real-time three-dimensional echocardiography has provided new ways to improve the selection and monitoring of potential candidates for an increasing number of noncoronary interventions, such as percutaneous aortic valve implantation and percutaneous mitral valve repair.

[Update on cardiac imaging techniques: echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance, and multidetector computed tomography].

This article contains a review of the most important publications on cardiac imaging that have appeared during 2008. During the year, we assisted with the clinical implementation of three-dimensional real-time transesophageal echocardiography, with the use of echocardiography for selecting patients for and monitoring those who underwent percutaneous aortic valve replacement (the majority of centers performing the technique were still in the learning phase), and with the emergence in the clinic of techniques for studying myocardial deformation. Also reviewed are the most significant developments in the application of echocardiography to coronary heart disease and cardiac resynchronization therapy and in 2 other techniques whose use is constantly increasing: cardiac magnetic resonance and multidetector cardiac computed tomography.

[Update on cardiac imaging techniques. Echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance and multidetector computed tomography].

This review of progress in cardiac imaging techniques summarizes the most significant development reported in the last year on different echocardiographic techniques and their application in a range of settings, from the treatment of heart failure to their use in intraoperative monitoring and guiding interventional procedures. Large sections are devoted to recent developments in three-dimensional imaging and, because of its clinical importance, to magnetic resonance imaging. Finally, there is a comprehensive update on the use of multidetector computed tomography in cardiology.

[Update on cardiac imaging techniques. Echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, and multidetector computed tomography].

This article contains a review of the most significant publications on non-invasive recent cardiac imaging techniques in 2005. The increasing importance of technological innovation in echocardiography is reflected in the sections on three dimensional echocardiography, contrast echocardiography, and myocardial deformation measurement techniques (i.e.

Dilated cardiomyopathy as a presenting feature of Cushing's syndrome.

Patients with Cushing's syndrome can rarely present with systolic heart failure as the mainstay feature. In these patients, heart failure is usually secondary to left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and not to dilated cardiopathy. We herewith report a patient with Cushing's syndrome, who presented with systolic ventricular failure secondary to dilated myocardiopathy and signs of proximal myopathy as predominant features.