Quantitative analysis of epicardial fat volume: effects of scanning protocol and reproducibility of measurements in non-contrast cardiac CT vs. coronary CT angiography

Computed tomography (CT), in the context of cardiac imaging, faces numerous challenges. The heart is a complex, three-dimensional organ, which moves very rapidly and has small dimensions. Especially the coronary arteries, the main target of cardiac CT imaging, are difficult to visualize by any non-invasive technique. Technology progress has made the use of CT for cardiac and coronary diagnosis possible. For selected applications, including ruling out coronary artery stenoses in low-risk individuals, CT has become a clinical tool. The technical progress of cardiac CT, and especially coronary CT angiography, is continuous and rapid. One major aim is to improve image quality and broaden the applicability of coronary CT angiography, while at the same time achieving lower radiation doses. The other major aim is to extract more than purely anatomic information out of the dataset and to complement the information in luminal narrowing with information on downstream ischaemia.

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The relation between total epicardial fat volume assessed by cardiac CT and the presence of atrial fibrillation

The Egyptian Heart Journal ◽

10.1016/j.ehj.2015.12.001 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 68 (2) ◽

pp. 97-102 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Mohamed Abdelshafy Tabl ◽

Ahmad Torky ◽

Ahmad Farid

Keyword(s):

Atrial Fibrillation ◽

Cardiac Ct ◽

Epicardial Fat ◽

Epicardial Fat Volume ◽

Fat Volume

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Quantitative analysis of arterial flow properties for detection of non-calcified plaques in ECG-gated coronary CT angiography

10.1117/12.2082367 ◽

2015 ◽

Author(s):

Jun Wei ◽

Chuan Zhou ◽

Heang-Ping Chan ◽

Aamer Chughtai ◽

Prachi Agarwal ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quantitative Analysis ◽

Ct Angiography ◽

Coronary Ct Angiography ◽

Arterial Flow ◽

Flow Properties ◽

Coronary Ct

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Coronary CT Angiography Guided Medical Therapy in Subclinical Atherosclerosis

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm10040625 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (4) ◽

pp. 625

Author(s):

Alyssa L. S. Chow ◽

Saad D. Alhassani ◽

Andrew M. Crean ◽

Gary R. Small

Keyword(s):

Coronary Artery ◽

Primary Prevention ◽

Ct Angiography ◽

Coronary Atherosclerosis ◽

Coronary Ct Angiography ◽

Cardiac Ct ◽

Subclinical Atherosclerosis ◽

Coronary Ct ◽

Arterial Lumen

The goals of primary prevention in coronary atherosclerosis are to avoid sudden cardiac death, myocardial infarction or the need for revascularization procedures. Successful prevention will rely on accurate identification, effective therapy and monitoring of those at risk. Identification and potential monitoring can be achieved using cardiac computed tomography (CT). Cardiac CT can determine coronary artery calcification (CAC), a useful surrogate of coronary atherosclerosis burden. Cardiac CT can also assess coronary CT angiography (CCTA). CCTA can identify arterial lumen narrowing and highlight mural atherosclerosis hitherto hidden from other anatomical approaches. Herein we consider the role of CCTA and CAC-scoring in subclinical atherosclerosis. We explore the use of these modalities in screening and discuss data that has used CCTA for guiding primary prevention. We examine therapeutic trials using CCTA to determine the effects of plaque-modifying therapies. Finally, we address the role of CCTA and CAC to guide therapy as defined in current primary prevention documents. CCTA has emerged as an essential tool in the detection and management of clinical coronary artery disease. To date, its role in subclinical atherosclerosis is less well defined, yet with modern CT scanners and continued pharmacotherapy development, CCTA is likely to achieve a more prominent place in the primary prevention of coronary atherosclerosis.

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