Dual energy CT for the assessment of reperfused chronic infarction - a feasibility study in a porcine model.

BACKROUND: Detection of myocardial infarction has been the focus of considerable research over the past few decades. Recently developed dual source computed tomography (DSCT) scanners with dual energy mode have been used to detect myocardial infarction, but the studies on this topic are few.To evaluate the feasibility and performance of dual energy CT (DECT) during arterial phase in coronary CT angiography for the detection of chronic infarction compared with late enhancement MRI (LE-MRI) and histopathology in a porcine model of reperfused myocardial infarction.Myocardial infarctions were induced by 30 min occlusion of the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery in eight minipigs. DECT, post-contrast LE-MRI and histopathology were performed 60 days after infarct induction. The CT scan was performed in dual energy mode using a dedicated protocol. Myocardial iodine distribution was superimposed as color maps on grey scale multiplanar reformats of the heart. Two radiologists in consensus interpreted all imaging studies for presence of gadolinium uptake at LE-MRI reduced iodine content at DECT and hypoenhanced areas in the initial 100 kV coronary CT angiography images that were acquired during the DECT-acquisition. Results were compared with histopathology.Based on evaluable segments, DECT showed a sensitivity and specificity of 0.72 and 0.88; LE-MRI showed a sensitivity and specificity of 0.78 and 0.92; and the 100 kV data-set of the DECT scan showed a sensitivity and specificity of 0.60 and 0.93, respectively, for the detection of histological proved ischemia.DECT during arterial phase coronary CT angiography, which is ordinarily used for coronary artery evaluation, is feasible for the detection of a chronic reperfused myocardial infarction

Dose levels at coronary CT angiography--a comparison of Dual Energy-, Dual Source- and 16-slice CT.

To compare the dose estimates and image quality of Dual Energy CT (DECT), Dual Source CT (DSCT) and 16-slice CT for coronary CT angiography (cCTA).Sixty-eight patients were examined with 16 - slice MDCT (group 1), 68 patients with DSCT (group 2) and 68 patients using DSCT in dual energy mode (DECT group 3). CT dose index volume, dose length product, effective dose, signal-to-noise, and contrast-to-noise ratio were compared. Subjective image quality was rated by two observers, blinded to technique.The mean estimated radiation dose of all patients investigated on a 16 - slice MDCT was 12 ± 3.59 mSv, for DSCT in single energy 9.8 ± 4.77 mSv and for DECT 4.54 ± 1.87 mSv. Dose for CTA was significantly lower in group 3 compared to group 1 and 2. The image noise was significantly lower in Group 2 in comparison to group 1 and group 3. There was no significant difference in diagnostic image quality comparing DECT and DSCT.cCTA shows better dose levels at both DECT and DSCT compared to 16-slice CT. Further, DECT delivers significantly less dose than regular DSCT or single source single energy cCTA while maintaining diagnostic image quality

Coronary CT Angiography: Evaluation of Stenosis and Occlusion

Once an atherosclerotic plaque has been identified and properly characterized by means of coronary CT angiography (CTA), the next step is to define the extent of atherosclerotic involvement, i.e., significant reduction of the lumen by stenosis or complete occlusion of the vessel. A reduction in the caliber of the vessel lumen is associated with a reduction in blood flow and may have significant hemodynamic consequences; however, an important and clearly evident parietal atherosclerotic plaque may be present without significantly reducing lumen caliber. Thus, an exact definition of the extent of lumen reduction by means of coronary CTA is very important from a clinical point of view. In most cases, this diagnostic procedure is employed in not highly symptomatic patients (in patients in whom there is strong clinical suspicion of coronary disease, catheter angiography is directly performed); then, depending on the results of the clinical examination, a decision is made as to whether a more invasive approach (catheter angiographsy) is required. This decision depends at least in part on the significance of the vessel stenosis. Both the aim and the key role of coronary CTA are to differentiate patients with normal coronary vessels from those with limited atherosclerotic involvement without evidence of stenosis (who may benefit from supportive drug therapy) and from those with significant stenosis. In this latter group, catheter coronary angiography may confirm the significance of the disease and define the therapeutic approach. The direct evidence of arterial stenosis provided by coronary CTA yields additional information. For example, a stenosis > 70% causes a significant hemodynamic reduction of vascular flow. Completely asymptomatic patients, with negative treadmill tests, may present with important and significant stenosis of one or more coronary arteries but with an overall reduction in flow that is less than the 70% threshold. In clinical practice, a stenosis is considered significant when the vessel caliber is reduced by > 50%. Thus, the goal is to interpret coronary CTA images such that the level of stenotic vascular involvement is precisely determined