Chamber dimensions and functional assessment with coronary computed tomographic angiography as compared to echocardiography using American Society of Echocardiography guidelines

Background: The correlation between normal cardiac chamber linear dimensions measured during retrospective coronary computed tomographic angiography as compared to transthoracic echocardiography using the American Society of Echocardiography guidelines is not well established. Methods: We performed a review from January 2005 to July 2011 to identify subjects with retrospective electrocardiogram-gated coronary computed tomographic angiography scans for chest pain and transthoracic echocardiography with normal cardiac structures performed within 90 days. Dimensions were manually calculated in both imaging modalities in accordance with the American Society of Echocardiography published guidelines. Left ventricular ejection fraction was calculated on echocardiography manually using the Simpson’s formula and by coronary computed tomographic angiography using the end-systolic and end-diastolic volumes. Results: We reviewed 532 studies, rejected 412 and had 120 cases for review with a median time between studies of 7 days (interquartile range (IQR 25,75 ) = 0–22 days) with no correlation between the measurements made by coronary computed tomographic angiography and transthoracic echocardiography using Bland–Altman analysis. We generated coronary computed tomographic angiography cardiac dimension reference ranges for both genders for our population. Conclusion: Our findings represent a step towards generating cardiac chamber dimensions’ reference ranges for coronary computed tomographic angiography as compared to transthoracic echocardiography in patients with normal cardiac morphology and function using the American Society of Echocardiography guideline measurements that are commonly used by cardiologists

Assessment of major adverse cardiovascular events and ischemic stroke with coronary computed tomography angiography based upon angiographic diagnosis in a high-volume single center

Background: Patient prognosis has been shown to directly correlate with the severity of coronary artery disease diagnosed by coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA). Although the presence of coronary artery calcium has been associated with increased incidence of ischemic stroke, there are no data on the incidence of ischemic stroke based upon the severity of coronary artery disease by CCTA. Therefore, we sought to investigate the rate of major adverse cardiovascular events, including ischemic stroke, based upon the severity of coronary artery disease by CCTA over a 6-year period in a high-volume single military center. Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review of all CCTA studies to evaluate the incidence of all-cause mortality, non-fatal myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, and late revascularization (>90 days following CCTA) from January 2005 until July 2012. We reviewed 1518 CCTA reports, dividing patients into groups with obstructive (≥50% stenosis), non-obstructive (<50% stenosis), and no coronary artery disease (no angiographic disease). Subsequent major adverse cardiovascular events data (incidence of all-cause mortality, ischemic stroke, non-fatal myocardial infarction, and late revascularization) were obtained. Results: Over a review period of 6 years with a resultant median follow-up period of 22 months (interquartile range = 13–34 months), the major adverse cardiovascular events rate was significantly higher with obstructive coronary artery disease compared to both non-obstructive coronary artery disease and no coronary artery disease (8.9% vs 0.7%, p < 0.001; 8.9% vs 1.6%, p < 0.001). The incidence of ischemic stroke alone was also significantly higher in those with obstructive coronary artery disease compared to those with no coronary artery disease (3.8% vs 0.4%, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Being free of disease on CCTA was associated with excellent cardiovascular prognosis. Obstructive coronary artery disease was associated with a significantly increased incidence of ischemic stroke. There was also a direct correlation between the severity of coronary artery disease on CCTA and cardiovascular prognosis over the follow-up period of 24 months