Prevalence and impact of scan-related anxiety during coronary CT angiography: A prospective cohort study of 366 patients.

Background: Scanxiety, the anxiety/stress associated with an imaging test, has never been evaluated in relation to coronary CT angiography (Coronary CTA). As it could impact heart rate and thereby affect image quality of Coronary CTA, we aimed to evaluate the prevalence, severity, and impact of scanxiety on quality and interpretability of Coronary CTA.

Methods: 366 consecutive patients were prospectively presented with a clinical questionnaire comprising two tests to evaluate their scan-related anxiety: the Impact of Event IES-6 (6 questions, final score 0-24) and a visual stress-scale (1 question, score 1-10).

Role of MDCT Imaging in Planning Mitral Valve Intervention.

Purpose Of Review: Recent advancements in transcatheter valvular interventions have resulted in a growing demand for advanced cardiac imaging to help guide these procedures.

Recent Findings: Both echocardiography and multi-detector computed tomography have played essential roles in the maturation of transcatheter aortic valve replacement and are now building on these experiences and helping inform the nascent field of transcatheter mitral interventions. Advanced imaging is essential to aid in the diagnosis and determination of the mechanism of mitral regurgitation.

Imaging for structural heart procedures: focus on computed tomography.

The success and continued rapid clinical integration of transcatheter valve technologies relies on imaging modalities to guide safe and effective device deployment. In particular, cardiac imaging, using both echocardiography and CT, is an integral resource for the multidisciplinary team. These modalities can provide valuable insight for the proceduralist at each stage of transcatheter-based valve insertion, as they can be used reliably to define the anatomy of interest and its relationship to surrounding structures, determine accurate device sizing, assess patients for valve-in-valve procedures, and screen for adverse features or procedural contraindications.

Diagnostic performance of the quantification of myocardium at risk from MPI SPECT/CTA 2G fusion for detecting obstructive coronary disease: A multicenter trial.

Background: The effective non-invasive identification of coronary artery disease (CAD) and its proper referral for invasive treatment are still unresolved issues. We evaluated our quantification of myocardium at risk (MAR) from our second generation 3D MPI/CTA fusion framework for the detection and localization of obstructive coronary disease.

Methods: Studies from 48 patients who had rest/stress MPI, CTA, and ICA were analyzed from 3 different institutions.

Dual-source CT in blunt trauma patients: elimination of diaphragmatic motion using high-pitch spiral technique.

The purpose of this study was to compare diaphragmatic motion on dual-source high-pitch (DS-HP) and conventional single-source (SS) CT scans in trauma patients. Seventy-five consecutive trauma patients who presented to a level one trauma center over a 6-month period were scanned with a standardized whole body trauma CT protocol including both DS-HP chest (pitch = 2.1-2.

Early hypo-attenuated leaflet thickening in balloon-expandable transcatheter aortic heart valves.

Aims: We sought to evaluate the frequency of early hypo-attenuated leaflet thickening (HALT) of the SAPIEN 3 transcatheter aortic valve (S3).

Methods And Results: Of 249 patients who had undergone S3 implantation, we studied 156 consecutive patients (85 women, median age 82.2 ± 5.

Characterization of cardiac quiescence from retrospective cardiac computed tomography using a correlation-based phase-to-phase deviation measure.

Purpose: Accurate knowledge of cardiac quiescence is crucial to the performance of many cardiac imaging modalities, including computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA). To accurately quantify quiescence, a method for detecting the quiescent periods of the heart from retrospective cardiac computed tomography (CT) using a correlation-based, phase-to-phase deviation measure was developed.

Methods: Retrospective cardiac CT data were obtained from 20 patients (11 male, 9 female, 33-74 yr) and the left main, left anterior descending, left circumflex, right coronary artery (RCA), and interventricular septum (IVS) were segmented for each phase using a semiautomated technique.

Colorectal emergencies and related complications: a comprehensive imaging review--noninfectious and noninflammatory emergencies of colon.

Objective: In this article, we illustrate imaging findings of colorectal emergencies encountered in the acute setting that are primarily noninfectious and noninflammatory in origin. Our review should enable the reader to identify and understand common colorectal emergencies and related complications in clinical practice.

Conclusion: The diagnosis of colorectal emergencies is mostly straightforward, but it can be challenging because of the overlap of presenting symptoms and imaging findings.

Automatic detection of left and right ventricles from CTA enables efficient alignment of anatomy with myocardial perfusion data.

Background: Accurate alignment between cardiac CT angiographic studies (CTA) and nuclear perfusion images is crucial for improved diagnosis of coronary artery disease. This study evaluated in an animal model the accuracy of a CTA fully automated biventricular segmentation algorithm, a necessary step for automatic and thus efficient PET/CT alignment.

Methods And Results: Twelve pigs with acute infarcts were imaged using Rb-82 PET and 64-slice CTA.

Effect of intensive versus moderate lipid-lowering therapy on epicardial adipose tissue in hyperlipidemic post-menopausal women: a substudy of the BELLES trial (Beyond Endorsed Lipid Lowering with EBT Scanning).

Objectives: This study sought to evaluate the effect of intensive and moderate statin therapy on epicardial adipose tissue (EAT).

Background: EAT has been associated with coronary artery disease severity and outcome. It is currently unknown whether EAT volume changes over time when patients are exposed to statin therapy.

Integrating patient digital photographs with medical imaging examinations.

We introduce the concept, benefits, and general architecture for acquiring, storing, and displaying digital photographs along with medical imaging examinations. We also discuss a specific implementation built around an Android-based system for simultaneously acquiring digital photographs along with portable radiographs. By an innovative application of radiofrequency identification technology to radiographic cassettes, the system is able to maintain a tight relationship between these photographs and the radiographs within the picture archiving and communications system (PACS) environment.

Repair of prosthetic mitral valve paravalvular leak using an off-pump transapical approach.

Patients who present with significant paravalvular regurgitation after mitral valve replacement remain a difficult patient population and high-risk surgical candidates. We present 3 cases of transapical closure of mitral valve paravalvular leak (PVL) after mitral valve replacement using Amplatzer closure devices (AGA Medical Corp, Plymouth, MN). All 3 patients experienced decreased regurgitation at the site of the closure as well as symptomatic improvement in their heart failure.

A phantom study of the effect of heart rate, coronary artery displacement and vessel trajectory on coronary artery calcium score: potential for risk misclassification.

Background: Accurate coronary artery calcium scoring improves risk stratification in some strata of the population.

Objective: We evaluated individual and combined effects of reader experience, heart rate, vessel displacement, and trajectory on computed tomography (CT) Agatston score, calcium volume, and calcium mass in a cardiac phantom model.

Methods: A cardiac motion phantom was scanned with a 64-slice CT scanner with artificial electrocardiogram gating with combinations of the following: heart rates 60, 80, and 100 beat/min; vessel displacement of 1.

Epicardial adipose tissue volume and coronary artery calcium to predict myocardial ischemia on positron emission tomography-computed tomography studies.

Background: There appears to be an association of epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) with coronary artery disease (CAD) and its risk factors. EAT is assumed to influence CAD development by altering vasomotor tone and via toxic paracrine effects. The relationship of EAT to myocardial perfusion has not been studied.

Epicardial adipose tissue and coronary artery plaque characteristics.

Objective: Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of coronary atherosclerosis. The association of EAT volume with type of coronary artery plaque on computed tomography angiography (CTA) is not known.

Methods: Coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring and EAT volume measurement were performed on 214 consecutive patients (mean age 54+/-14 years) referred for coronary CTA.