0000000000208715
AUTHOR
Teresa Arcadi
Rationale, design and methods of CTCA-PRORECAD (Computed Tomography Coronary Angiography Prognostic Registry for Coronary Artery Disease): a multicentre and multivendor registry.
PURPOSE: This study was done to assess the prognostic value of computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) in a large multicentre population of patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) and, in particular, its incremental value compared with traditional methods for risk stratification. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective observational study that began in January 2003 conducted on patients with suspected CAD assessed with CTCA on the basis of symptoms (chest pain, dyspnoea) and/or abnormal or equivocal stress test and/or a high cardiovascular risk profile. The participating centres will provide data obtained with CTCA performed with 16-slice or higher equipment. Ex…
Carotid intima media thickness and coronary atherosclerosis linkage in symptomatic intermediate risk patients evaluated by coronary computed tomography angiography.
Background: There is a growing evidence that carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) is associated with coronary artery disease (CAD) and it should be used as a predictor of atherosclerotic burden of coronary arteries. However, these studies have been performed by using invasive coronary angiography (ICA) and in high-risk patients for CAD. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the correlation between CIMT by ultrasound and coronary atherosclerosis in symptomatic intermediate risk patients by coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA). Methods: We enrolled 204 consecutive symptomatic patients (mean age: 61 +/- 10; men: 118) and intermediate risk for CAD. All patients underwent CIMT ul…
Computed tomography coronary angiography in asymptomatic patients
This study assessed the accuracy of computed tomography coronary angiography (CT-CA) for detecting significant coronary artery disease (CAD; a parts per thousand yen50% lumen reduction) in intermediate/high-risk asymptomatic patients. A total of 183 consecutive asymptomatic individuals (92 men; mean age 54 +/- 11 years) with more than one major risk factor (obesity, hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolaemia, family history, smoking) and an inconclusive or nonfeasible noninvasive stress test result (stress electrocardiography, stress echocardiography, nuclear stress scintigraphy) underwent CT-CA in an outpatient setting. All patients underwent conventional coronary angiography (CAG) with…
Collateral non cardiac findings in clinical routine CT coronary angiography: results from a multi-center registry.
Purpose: The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of collateral findings detected in computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) in a multi-center registry. Materials and methods: We performed a retrospective review of 4303 patients (2719 males, mean age 60.3 ± 10.2 years) undergoing 64-slice CTCA for suspected or known coronary artery disease (CAD) at various academic institutions between 01/2006 and 09/2010. Collateral findings were recorded and scored as: non-significant (no signs of relevant pathology, not necessary to be reported), significant (clear signs of pathology, mandatory to be reported), or major (remarkable pathology, mandatory to be reported and further invest…
CT coronary angiography at an ultra-low radiation dose (< 0.1 mSv): feasible and viable in times of constraint on healthcare costs
Computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) has reached very high standards both in terms of diagnostic performance and radiation dose reduction. This commentary follows a report on CTCA using less than 0.1 mSv in selected patients. This is an extraordinary accomplishment, both for technology and for medicine. The difficult task is now to implement this tool in clinical practice so it can play the best possible role. CTCA can improve diagnostic pathways, can save money for healthcare systems and could even improve pharmacological therapy. All of this may happen, but it will require the combined effort of all the experienced operators in this field, including the referring clinicians. In…
Low dose CT of the heart: a quantum leap into a new era of cardiovascular imaging.
In 10 years, computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) has shifted from an investigational tool to clinical reality. Even though CT technologies are very advanced and widely available, a large body of evidence supporting the clinical role of CTCA is missing. The reason is that the speed of technological development has outpaced the ability of the scientific community to demonstrate the clinical utility of the technique. In addition, with each new CT generation, there is a further broadening of actual and potential applications. In this review we examine the state of the art on CTCA. In particular, we focus on issues concerning technological development, radiation dose, implementation,…
Computed tomography coronary angiography plaque burden in patients with suspected coronary artery disease.
Purpose To determine the relationship between established cardiovascular risk factors, clinical presentation and the extent of coronary artery disease (CAD), as described with computed tomography coronary angiography. Material and methods In this cross-sectional study, we included 567 symptomatic individuals without a history of CAD who consecutively underwent 64-slice computed tomography coronary angiography for evaluation of suspected CAD. We analyzed the prevalence of CAD depending on sex, age, symptoms and risk factors. Results A total of 8542 segments were analyzed. No evidence of CAD was observed in 225 patients (40%), nonsignificant CAD in 221 patients (39%) and significant CAD (lumi…
Coronary artery calcium score on low-dose computed tomography for lung cancer screening
Aim: To evaluate the feasibility of coronary artery calcium score (CACS) on low-dose non-gated chest CT (ngCCT). Methods: Sixty consecutive individuals (30 males; 73 ± 7 years) scheduled for risk stratification by means of unenhanced ECG-triggered cardiac computed tomography (gCCT) underwent additional unenhanced ngCCT. All CT scans were performed on a 64-slice CT scanner (Somatom Sensation 64 Cardiac, Siemens, Germany). CACS was calculated using conventional methods/scores (Volume, Mass, Agatston) as previously described in literature. The CACS value obtained were compared. The Mayo Clinic classification was used to stratify cardiovascular risk based on Agatston CACS. Differences and corre…