Computed tomography to diagnose coronary artery disease: A reduction in radiation dose increases applicability

2013 ◽  
Vol 68 (4) ◽  
pp. 340-345 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. Gosling ◽  
G. Morgan-Hughes ◽  
S. Iyengar ◽  
W. Strain ◽  
R. Loader ◽  
...  
2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
M A Debski ◽  
M Kruk ◽  
S Bujak ◽  
Z Dzielinska ◽  
M Demkow ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) has high diagnostic accuracy in ruling out significant stenosis of coronary arteries in patients with intermediate probability of coronary artery disease. Based on CTA result, some patients are scheduled for invasive coronary angiography (ICA). As no specyfic guidelines exist for such situations, during ICA contrast media is routinely injected into both coronary arteries, irrespectively of CTA result. Conceivably, patients scheduled for ICA with one vessel disease may benefit from invasive interrogation limited to the diseased vessel only, presumably resulting in less contrast, lower radiation dose and less complications related to catheterization. Purpose The aim of this study was to analyse the potential trade-off between the benefits and costs of a “diseased-vessel-only” (>50% DS in CTA) invasive diagnostic approach in patients undergoing ICA following coronary CTA, as compared to the traditional “total ICA” (including both arteries regardless of CTA result) approach. The potential benefits were defined as contrast and radiation doses reduction during ICA and the costs were defined as missing significant coronary stenosis. Methods In 85 patients who underwent CTA and subsequently ICA we precisely measured contrast volume and radiation dose used to visualise each vessel during ICA. Then we proposed excluding a vessel (either left or right coronary artery) without >50% diameter stenosis in CTA from ICA, and studied how it would affect ICA contrast and radiation values. DS in CTA and ICA were assessed quantitatively. Results CTA sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value in diagnosing >50%DS as assessed by ICA were 95.2%, 96.2%, 91.6% and 97.9%, respectively. Applying <50% DS in CTA as a threshold not to visualise the artery during ICA would reduce contrast volume by 47% (27ml, Fig. 1) and radiation dose by 51% (3.14mSv, Fig.2, both p<0.0001). No significant (>50%DS in ICA) stenosis would be missed by CTA. Figures 1 and 2 Conclusion These real-world data support the concept that vessels with <50%DS in CTA do not need to be visualised during ICA. Such approach would result in significant reduction in contrast media volume and patient's exposure to radiation during ICA, without underdiagnosing any of the patients.


2010 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas H Mahnken ◽  

Over the last decade, cardiac computed tomography (CT) technology has experienced revolutionary changes and gained broad clinical acceptance in the work-up of patients suffering from coronary artery disease (CAD). Since cardiac multidetector-row CT (MDCT) was introduced in 1998, acquisition time, number of detector rows and spatial and temporal resolution have improved tremendously. Current developments in cardiac CT are focusing on low-dose cardiac scanning at ultra-high temporal resolution. Technically, there are two major approaches to achieving these goals: rapid data acquisition using dual-source CT scanners with high temporal resolution or volumetric data acquisition with 256/320-slice CT scanners. While each approach has specific advantages and disadvantages, both technologies foster the extension of cardiac MDCT beyond morphological imaging towards the functional assessment of CAD. This article examines current trends in the development of cardiac MDCT.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Hammer ◽  
Muhtashim Mian ◽  
Levi Elhadad ◽  
Mary Li ◽  
Idan Roifman

Abstract Background Appropriate use criteria (AUC) have been developed in response to growth in cardiac imaging utilization and concern regarding associated costs. Cardiac computed tomography angiography (CCTA) has emerged as an important modality in the evaluation of coronary artery disease, however its appropriate utilization in actual practice is uncertain. Our objective was to determine the appropriate utilization of CCTA in a large quaternary care institution and to compare appropriate utilization pre and post publication of the 2013 AUC guidelines. We hypothesized that the proportion of appropriate CCTA utilization will be similar to those of other comparable cardiac imaging modalities and that there would be a significant increase in appropriate use post AUC publication. Methods We employed a retrospective cohort study design of 2577 consecutive patients undergoing CCTA between January 1, 2012 and December 30, 2016. An appropriateness category was assigned for each CCTA. Appropriateness classifications were compared pre- and post- AUC publication via the chi-square test. Results Overall, 83.5% of CCTAs were deemed to be appropriate based on the AUC. Before the AUC publication, 75.0% of CCTAs were classified as appropriate whereas after the AUC publication, 88.0% were classified as appropriate (p < 0.001). The increase in appropriate utilization, when extrapolated to the Medicare population of the United States, was associated with potential cost savings of approximately $57 million per year. Conclusions We report a high rate of appropriate use of CCTA and a significant increase in the proportion of CCTAs classified as appropriate after the AUC publication.


Author(s):  
Po-Yi Li ◽  
Ru-Yih Chen ◽  
Fu-Zong Wu ◽  
Guang-Yuan Mar ◽  
Ming-Ting Wu ◽  
...  

The objective of this study was to determine how coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) can be employed to detect coronary artery disease in hospital employees, enabling early treatment and minimizing damage. All employees of our hospital were assessed using the Framingham Risk Score. Those with a 10-year risk of myocardial infarction or death of >10% were offered CCTA; the Coronary Artery Disease Reporting and Data System (CAD-RADS) score was the outcome. A total of 3923 hospital employees were included, and the number who had received CCTA was 309. Among these 309, 31 (10.0%) had a CAD-RADS score of 3–5, with 10 of the 31 (32.3%) requiring further cardiac catheterization; 161 (52.1%) had a score of 1–2; and 117 (37.9%) had a score of 0. In the multivariate logistic regression, only age of ≥ 55 years (p < 0.05), hypertension (p < 0.05), and hyperlipidemia (p < 0.05) were discovered to be significant risk factors for a CAD-RADS score of 3–5. Thus, regular and adequate control of chronic diseases is critical for patients, and more studies are required to be confirmed if there are more significant risk factors.


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