Non-Stenotic Carotid Plaques and Rate of DWI-positive MRI in Patients with Lower-Risk Transient or Persistent Minor Neurologic Events: DOUBT Sub Study.

Background & Purpose: Non-stenotic (< 50%) carotid plaques are increasingly recognized as a potential mechanism for ischemic stroke. We assessed the prevalence of such plaques in patients with low-risk neurologic events and evidence of DWI (Diffusion Weighted Imaging)-positive ischemia.

Methods: This is a post-hoc exploratory analysis from the DOUBT study, a prospective, observational, multicenter study of patients with low-risk transient or persistent minor focal neurological symptoms.

Valve-sparing procedure for acute aortic regurgitation due to intimal intussusception in a minimally localized aortic root dissection.

Background: Acute heart failure due to aortic regurgitation (AR) is a severe comorbidity of type A acute aortic dissection (AAD). Valve-sparing aortic root replacement is typically performed when the aortic valve remains intact.

Case Presentation: A 33-year-old male presented to our hospital with chest pain.

Aortic pressures within a giant right coronary artery aneurysm.

Background: Giant coronary artery aneurysms are rare conditions with potentially devastating consequences. We report a case of the largest documented giant right coronary artery (RCA) aneurysm to date.

Case Presentation: A 57-year-old male patient visited our outpatient clinic for abdominal pain and exertional dyspnea.

State of the art of CT myocardial perfusion.

Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is a powerful tool to rule out coronary artery disease (CAD). In the last decade, myocardial perfusion CT (CTP) technique has been developed for the evaluation of myocardial ischemia, thereby increasing positive predictive value for diagnosis of obstructive CAD. A diagnostic strategy combining CCTA and perfusion acquisitions provides both anatomical coronary evaluation and functional evaluation of the stenosis, increasing the specificity and the positive predictive value of cardiac CT.

Imaging of common coronary artery anomalies and imaging features important for clinical decision-making.

Anomalous coronary arteries are associated with sudden cardiac death, although only in a relatively small percentage. Although this has been a field of study for years and there are many ongoing studies of larger patient cohorts and longer term follow-up, important questions remain at present in clinical decision-making, particularly whether or not to have surgery. Advanced imaging techniques including coronary computed tomography (CT) and cardiac magnetic resonance (MR) play an important role in the workup of patients with known or suspected anomalies including delineating origin and course as well as defining presence of high-risk imaging features.

High-Risk Embolic Sources on Cardiac Computed Tomography in Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Case-Control Study.

Background: Cardiac computed tomography (CT) is increasingly used to search for cardioembolic sources of acute ischemic stroke (AIS). We assessed the association between high-risk cardioembolic sources on cardiac CT and AIS.

Methods: We performed a case-control study using data from a prospective cohort including consecutive adult patients with suspected stroke who underwent cardiac CT acquired during the initial stroke imaging protocol between 2018 and 2020.

Reoperative minimal invasive off-pump coronary artery bypass graft in early left main stem stenosis following Modified Bentall procedure.

Six months following modified Bentall procedure a patient presented with angina and acute ST depression. CT coronary angiogram revealed severe narrowing of the left main coronary artery. Minimal invasive off pump coronary artery bypass grafting avoided complex reoperative surgery and delivered an excellent clinical outcome.

A simplified approach to managing a complex infected left ventricular pseudoaneurysm.

Background: Left ventricular pseudoaneurysm (LVP) is a rare but life-threatening condition resulting from acute myocardial infarction, trauma, bacterial infection, or previous cardiac operations. Diagnosis can be challenging as LVPs remain asymptomatic or present with nonspecific clinical symptoms. Early diagnosis is crucial to prevent rupture and recurrent septicemia.

Blood flow dynamics in the ascending aorta of patients with bicuspid aortic valve before and after transcatheter aortic valve replacement: a computational fluid dynamics study.

Background: Abnormal blood flow patterns are known to contribute to the ascending aortic dilation in patients with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV). The present study elucidated the blood flow characteristics in the dilated ascending aorta before and after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis.

Methods: We performed CFD analysis in three BAV patients with ascending aortic dilation (maximum diameter ≥ 45 mm) who underwent TAVR.

First comparison between artificial intelligence-guided coronary computed tomography angiography versus single-photon emission computed tomography testing for ischemia in clinical practice.

Background: Noninvasive cardiac testing with coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) are becoming alternatives to invasive angiography for the evaluation of obstructive coronary artery disease. We aimed to evaluate whether a novel artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted CCTA program is comparable to SPECT imaging for ischemic testing.

Methods: CCTA images were analyzed using an artificial intelligence convolutional neural network machine-learning-based model, atherosclerosis imaging-quantitative computed tomography (AI-QCT)ISCHEMIA.

Automated and quantitative assessment of aortic root based on cardiac computed tomography angiography using a new deep-learning tool: a comparison study.

Background: Accurate assessment of aortic root is crucial for the preprocedural planning of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). A variety software is emerging for the semiautomated or automated measurements during TAVR planning. This study evaluated a new deep-learning (DL) tool based on cardiac computed tomography angiography (CCTA) for fully automatic assessment of aortic root.

Application of computed tomography angiography imaging in coronary heart disease screening and analysis of associated risk factors.

Background: Coronary heart disease (CHD) remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Early detection and risk stratification are crucial for effective management. This study evaluates the efficacy of coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) in CHD screening and analyses its correlation with traditional risk factors in an asymptomatic population.

Coronary computed tomography angiography for assessing the coronary artery and predicting adverse cardiovascular events in patients with thoracic malignancies.

Background: It is unclear whether the parameters derived from coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) can identify the impairments of coronary arteries and if they are associated with major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in patients with thoracic malignancies receiving chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy. This study aimed to investigate the longitudinal changes in coronary arteries using CCTA and to determine their association with MACEs in patients with thoracic malignancies receiving chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included consecutive patients with thoracic malignancies who received chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy and who underwent CCTA between June 2013 and May 2019 at Chongqing University Cancer Hospital.

Quantitative assessment of pulmonary blood flow redistribution in the classification of group 1 and group 4 pulmonary hypertension.

Background: All patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH), without left heart disease or lung diseases, need further distinguishing between pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). This study aimed to investigate the value of quantitative assessment of pulmonary blood flow redistribution in further classification.

Methods: Forty-six patients who underwent echocardiography and computed tomography pulmonary angiography at The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University were included in this cross-sectional study, and all patients were categorized into a non-PH group (18 cases), a PAH group (12 cases), and a CTEPH group (16 cases).

Myocardial perfusion imaging in a case of cardiac strangulation: A novel approach to detect pacemaker-induced ischemia.

Cardiac strangulation is a rare phenomenon in children following epicardial pacemaker implantation, caused by compression of the heart and great vessels by the epicardial pacemaker wires. We report a rare case of cardiac strangulation presenting after 8 years of epicardial pacemaker implantation. On routine follow-up, computed tomography angiography showed significant extrinsic compression of the mid-left anterior descending (LAD) artery by the epicardial pacing wire.

Iatrogenic Type A Aortic Dissection Following Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Iatrogenic type A aortic dissection (IAAD) is a rare but life-threatening complication of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), often presenting significant therapeutic challenges. A looped guidewire between the right subclavian artery and brachiocephalic artery during coronary angiography (CAG) via right radial artery access can complicate catheter manipulation. This report discusses the case of a 58-year-old hypertensive female patient who developed aortic dissection during PCI, specifically due to wire manipulation at the brachiocephalic loop.

Coronary artery calcification score as the determinant of coronary artery disease in chronic kidney disease patients: A preliminary study.

Background: Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is a noninvasive cardiovascular imaging procedure that visualizes coronary artery calcifications (CAC), a marker of subclinical atherosclerosis. Due to different calcification patterns in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) compared to the general population, this study aims to present diagnostic cut-off values for CAC to detect early coronary artery disease (CAD) in CKD patients.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 807 patients: 407 with CKD and 400 controls with normal kidney function who underwent CCTA during 2019-2021.

Successful endovascular therapy with "Direct tip injection in occlusive lesions (DIOL)" fashion for persistent sciatic artery aneurysmal occlusion: A case report.

Unlabelled: Persistent sciatic artery (PSA) is a rare congenital anomaly that may involve aneurysmal formations. During endovascular treatment for PSA aneurysm (PSAA) occlusion, guidewire crossing can be challenging due to complex anatomy. We report successful endovascular intervention for PSAA occlusion using the "direct tip injection in occlusive lesions (DIOL)" fashion, in which hydraulic pressure with contrast facilitates guidewire crossing by visualizing the vessel course and expanding the microchannel and vessel lumen.

Intravascular Ultrasound for the Prevention of Coronary Artery Occlusion During Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

Predicting coronary artery occlusion after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is usually based on computed tomography angiography (CTA). The primary risk factors seem to be a low coronary artery take-off and a small aortic root. However, CTA sometimes provides ambiguous risk assessment, and even if a potentially risky coronary artery is secured with a guidewire, the need for coronary stenting after valve implantation often remains uncertain.

Pericoronary adipose tissue radiomics features as imaging markers for coronary artery disease risk assessment: insights from gene expression analysis.

Aims: This study aimed to explore the correlation between radiomics features of pericoronary adipose tissue (PCAT) and gene expression in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), with the goal of identifying novel imaging biomarkers for evaluating CAD.

Methods: Between November 2021 and May 2022, data were collected from 60 patients diagnosed with CAD who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA). Samples of PCAT, three additional adipose tissue types, and peripheral venous blood were analysed.

Comparative Efficacy of Non-contrast vs. Contrast-enhanced CT Radiomics in Predicting Coronary Artery Plaques Among Patients with Low Agatston Scores.

Rationale And Objectives: Patients with a low Agatston score often present with clinical signs and symptoms suggestive of coronary artery disease, despite having minimal calcium deposits. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of low-dose non-contrast cardiac CT with coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) in pericoronary adipose tissue (PCAT) radiomics for predicting coronary artery plaques, using CCTA as the reference standard.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study analyzed 459 patients with suspected coronary artery disease and a coronary artery calcium score < 100 Agatston units, who were treated between June 2021 and December 2023 at a tertiary hospital.

Aortic Thrombus Formation in the Mixing Zone of a Patient With Acute Myocarditis.

A 66-year-old man presented with chills, exertional dyspnea, and palpitations; he later developed a fever. Because of his elevated cardiac enzymes and electrocardiography and coronary angiography findings, he was diagnosed with acute myocarditis. Given his unstable hemodynamics, an intra-aortic balloon pump was inserted; however, he experienced a hemodynamic collapse due to refractory ventricular fibrillation.

[The multi-center mid-term clinical outcomes of combined complete preservation of chordal structure mitral valve replacement with total anatomic complete arterial myocardial revascularization for coronary patients with moderate-to-severe or severe ischemic mitral regurgitation].

To evaluate the clinical outcomes of combined complete preservation of chordal structure mitral valve replacement (C-MVR) with total anatomical arterial myocardial revascularization (TACR) in coronary patients with moderate-to-severe or severe ischemic mitral regurgitation (IMR). This is a retrospective multi-center case series study. Data were retrospectively collected from 127 patients with coronary artery disease with moderate to severe or severe IMR who received TACR with C-MVR from July 2015 to April 2024 in 13 hospitals in China.