Trabecular bone mineral density as measured by thoracic vertebrae predicts incident hip and vertebral fractures: the multi-ethnic study of atherosclerosis.

Unlabelled: We evaluated the relationship of bone mineral density (BMD) by computed tomography (CT), to predict fractures in a multi-ethnic population. We demonstrated that vertebral and hip fractures were more likely in those patients with low BMD. This is one of the first studies to demonstrate that CT BMD derived from thoracic vertebrae can predict future hip and vertebral fractures.

Methods and Reproducibility of Liver Fat Measurement Using 3-Dimensional Liver Segmentation From Noncontrast Computed Tomography in EVAPORATE Cohort.

Objective: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease not only shares multiple risk factors with cardiovascular disease but also independently predicts its increased risk and related outcomes. Here, we evaluate reproducibility of 3-dimensional (3D) liver volume segmentation method to identify fatty liver on noncontrast cardiac computed tomography (CT) and compare measures with previously validated 2-dimensional (2D) segmentation CT criteria for the measurement of liver fat.

Methods: The study included 68 participants enrolled in the EVAPORATE trial and underwent serial noncontrast cardiac CT.

The effect of icosapent ethyl on left atrial and left ventricular morphology.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common arrhythmia associated with poor outcomes. N-3 fatty acids have been shown to provide significant cardiovascular risk reduction, but they may exacerbate the risk of AF. The pathway by which N-3 fatty acids may be arrhythmogenic is unknown.

Opportunistic AI-enabled automated bone mineral density measurements in lung cancer screening and coronary calcium scoring CT scans are equivalent.

Rationale And Objectives: We previously reported a novel manual method for measuring bone mineral density (BMD) in coronary artery calcium (CAC) scans and validated our method against Dual X-Ray Absorptiometry (DEXA). Furthermore, we have developed and validated an artificial intelligence (AI) based automated BMD (AutoBMD) measurement as an opportunistic add-on to CAC scans that recently received FDA approval. In this report, we present evidence of equivalency between AutoBMD measurements in cardiac vs lung CT scans.

Effect of body mass index on bone mineral density is age-specific.

Background And Aims: Obesity and osteoporosis are two important and growing public health problems worldwide. Body mass index (BMI) has been found to be inversely related to the risk of osteoporotic fracture. We aimed to assess the association of BMI with thoracic vertebral bone mineral density (BMD) measured from a quantitative computed tomography (QCT).

Use of Advanced CT Technology to Evaluate Left Atrial Indices in Patients with a High Heart Rate or with Heart Rate Variability: The Converge Registry.

We intended to assess the ability of current-generation 256-slice coronary CT angiography (CCTA) to measure left atrial volume (LAV), comparing patients with a high heart rate (HiHR) of at least 70 bpm and patients with heart rate variability such as atrial fibrillation (AFib). Using the prospective Converge Registry of patients undergoing 256-detector CCTA on a Revolution scanner, we enrolled 121 HiHR patients (74 men; mean age, 62.7 ± 12.

Aged garlic extract reduces left ventricular myocardial mass in patients with diabetes: A prospective randomized controlled double-blind study.

Increased left ventricular myocardial mass (LVM) is a well known prognostic marker of poor cardiac outcomes. Decreases in LVM have been shown to decrease the cardiovascular risk. Aged garlic extract (AGE) has been shown to have an overall favorable effect on cardiac health; however, to the best of our knowledge, no study to date has specifically examined its effects on left ventricular mass.

Identifying Smoking-Related Disease on Lung Cancer Screening CT Scans: Increasing the Value.

Background: Lung cancer screening (LCS) via chest computed tomography (CT) scans can save lives by identifying early-stage tumors. However, most smokers die of comorbid smoking-related diseases. LCS scans contain information about smoking-related conditions that is not currently systematically assessed.

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.

Application of quantitative computed tomography for assessment of trabecular bone mineral density, microarchitecture and mechanical property.

Osteoporosis is a common metabolic bone disease, causing increased skeletal fragility characterized by a low bone mass and trabecular microarchitectural deterioration. Assessment of the bone mineral density (BMD) is the primary determinant of skeletal fragility. Computed tomography (CT)-based trabecular microarchitectural and mechanical assessments are important methods to evaluate the skeletal strength.

Routine Coronary Calcium Scan Can Precisely Measure Vertebral Bone Density Without a Quantitative Calibration Phantom.

Objective: We aimed to assess accuracy and precision of quantitative computed tomography (QCT) and phantomless in thoracic bone mineral density (BMD) assessment using coronary artery calcium scan (CACS).

Methods: A total of 513 subjects underwent CACS with a calibration phantom. The thoracic spine BMD and concentration of calcium hydroxyapatite in phantom rods, as well CT Hounsfield unit of both, were measured.

Gender differences in coronary artery diameter are not related to body habitus or left ventricular mass.

Background: Smaller coronary artery diameter portends worse outcomes after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The suggestion that women have smaller coronary artery diameters than men has not been validated by a large-scale study.

Hypothesis: We sought to confirm a gender difference with respect to coronary artery diameter, even after accounting for body habitus and left ventricular mass (LVM).

Model-based automatic segmentation algorithm accurately assesses the whole cardiac volumetric parameters in patients with cardiac CT angiography: a validation study for evaluating the accuracy of the workstation software and establishing the reference values.

Rationale And Objectives: The cardiac chamber volumes and functions can be assessed manually and automatically using the current computed tomography (CT) workstation system. We aimed to evaluate the accuracy and precision and to establish the reference values for both segmentation methods using cardiac CT angiography (CTA).

Materials And Methods: A total of 134 subjects (mean age 55.

Dual-standard reference values of left ventricular volumetric parameters by multidetector CT angiography.

Background: The papillary and trabecular muscles constitute a significant percentage of left ventricular mass and volume. The influence of the papillary and trabecular muscles on left ventricular parameters has not been described with multidetector CT angiography.

Objective: The aims of this study are (1) to derive reference values for left ventricular volumetric parameters both including and excluding the papillary and trabecular muscles and (2) to establish the optimal segmentation method for measuring these values.

Noncontrast cardiac computed tomography image-based vertebral bone mineral density: the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA).

Rationale And Objectives: Cardiac computer tomography (CT) image-based vertebral bone mineral density (BMD) assessment and the influence of cardiovascular disease risk factors on BMD have not been systematically evaluated, especially in a community-based, multiethnic population.

Methods: A cross-sectional study design is used to determine if cardiac CT image is a reliable source to assess vertebral BMD, and a total of 2028 CT images were obtained from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis, a large, diverse US cohort of adults 45 to 84 years of age.

Results: Cardiac CT image allows the rapid assessment of vertebral BMD and related fractures.

Detection and quantification of myocardial perfusion defects by resting single-phase 64-slice cardiac computed tomography angiography compared with SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging.

Objective: Hypoenhanced regions on cardiac computed tomography angiography (CCTA) correlate with myocardial hypoperfusion. We evaluated the ability of resting single-phase 64-slice CCTA to detect the presence of myocardial infarction (MI) compared with nuclear myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI).

Methods: One hundred and forty symptomatic patients (age 66±12 years, 64% men) with an irreversible perfusion defect (n=69) or a normal/reversible perfusion defect (n=71) on MPI were subjected to CCTA for further evaluation.

Measurement of phantomless thoracic bone mineral density on coronary artery calcium CT scans acquired with various CT scanner models.

Purpose: To determine the accuracy and precision of thoracic phantomless bone mineral density (BMD) measurements obtained on coronary artery calcium (CAC) computed tomography (CT) scans by using a variety of commercially available CT scanners.

Materials And Methods: The institutional review board approved this Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act-compliant study. A total of 4126 asymptomatic subjects (2022 [49%] men, 2104 [51%] women; mean age, 63.

Differences in coronary atherosclerotic plaque burden and composition according to increasing age on computed tomography angiography.

Rationale And Objectives: Few data were available regarding the underlying burden of specific plaque types with increasing ages. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship of coronary artery calcium (CAC) score with total coronary plaque burden and the difference of underlying coronary plaque composition across differing aging groups using 64-slice multidetector computed tomography.

Materials And Methods: Multidetector computed tomographic images of 781 consecutive patients were evaluated using a 15-coronary segment model.

Computerized left ventricular regional ejection fraction analysis for detection of ischemic coronary artery disease with multidetector CT angiography.

Regional ejection fraction (REF) provides important functional information of the left ventricular regional myocardium. We aimed to test the diagnostic accuracy of computerized REF analysis for detecting the ischemia and significant stenosis with multidetector CT angiography (MDCT). This is a retrospective study including 155 patients who underwent MDCT scans for evaluation of coronary artery disease.

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.

Very small calcifications are detected and scored in the coronary arteries from small voxel MDCT images using a new automated/calibrated scoring method with statistical and patient specific plaque definitions.

A negative (zero) Agatston coronary calcium score (CCS) by current methods confers a very low risk for hard coronary events during the next years. However, controversy remains on how to use a negative score since some hard events still occur. We report on a new method with improved detection sensitivity for very small calcifications with the potential to more confidently rule out early atherosclerotic disease.

Relation of subclinical left and right ventricular dysfunctions measured by computed tomography angiography with the severity of coronary artery disease.

Objective: Ventricular dysfunction in asymptomatic patients is directly linked to the eventual development of symptomatic congestive heart failure. This study investigates whether subclinical left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) dysfunctions measured by computed tomography angiography is associated with the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods And Results: We studied 1608 consecutive patients with suspected CAD (age 62 ± 10 years, 64% male), who underwent coronary artery calcium (CAC) scanning and computed tomography angiography.

Mortality incidence of patients with non-obstructive coronary artery disease diagnosed by computed tomography angiography.

It was previously reported that event-free survival rates of symptomatic patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) diagnosed by computed tomographic angiography decreased incrementally from normal coronary arteries to obstructive CAD. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical outcomes of symptomatic patients with nonobstructive CAD with luminal stenoses of 1% to 49% on the basis of coronary plaque morphology in an outpatient setting. Among 3,499 consecutive symptomatic subjects who underwent computed tomographic angiography, 1,102 subjects with nonobstructive CAD (mean age 59 ± 14 years, 69.

Left ventricular volume: an optimal parameter to detect systolic dysfunction on prospectively triggered 64-multidetector row computed tomography: another step towards reducing radiation exposure.

In this study, we define the correlation between LV volumes (both LV end-diastolic volume [LVEDV] and LV end-systolic volume [LVESV]) and ejection fraction (EF) on 64 slice multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT). We also determine the accuracy of all the LV volume (LVV) parameters to detect LV systolic dysfunction (LVSD) and investigate the feasibility of using LVV as a surrogate of LVSD on prospectively gated imaging to prevent the radiation exposure of retrospective imaging. 568 patients undergoing 64-detector MDCT were divided into 2 groups: Group 1-subjects without any heart disease and LVEF ≥ 50%; and Group 2-patients with coronary artery disease and LVEF < 50% (defined as LVSD).