Ma R, Ties D, van Assen M, Pelgrim GJ, Sidorenkov G, van Ooijen PMA, van der Harst P, van Dijk R, Vliegenthart R. Towards reference values of pericoronary adipose tissue attenuation: impact of coronary artery and tube voltage in coronary computed tomography angiography.
Eur Radiol 2020;
30:6838-6846. [PMID:
32700017 PMCID:
PMC7599179 DOI:
10.1007/s00330-020-07069-0]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2020] [Revised: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 07/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Objectives
To determine normal pericoronary adipose tissue mean attenuation (PCATMA) values for left the anterior descending (LAD), left circumflex (LCX), and right coronary artery (RCA) in patients without plaques on coronary CT angiography (cCTA), taking into account tube voltage influence.
Methods
This retrospective study included 192 patients (76 (39.6%) men; median age 49 years (range, 19–79)) who underwent cCTA with third-generation dual-source CT for the suspicion of CAD between 2015 and 2017. We selected patients without plaque on cCTA. PCATMA was measured semi-automatically on cCTA images in the proximal segment of the three main coronary arteries with 10 mm length. Paired t-testing was used to compare PCATMA between combinations of two coronary arteries within each patient, and one-way ANOVA testing was used to compare PCATMA in different kV groups.
Results
The overall mean ± standard deviation (SD) PCATMA was − 90.3 ± 11.1 HU. PCATMA in men was higher than that in women: − 88.5 ± 10.5 HU versus − 91.5 ± 11.3 HU (p = 0.001). PCATMA of LAD, LCX, and RCA was − 92.4 ± 11.6 HU, − 88.4 ± 9.9 HU, and − 90.2 ± 11.4 HU, respectively. Pairwise comparison of the arteries showed significant difference in PCATMA: LAD and LCX (p < 0.001), LAD and RCA (p = 0.009), LCX and RCA (p = 0.033). PCATMA of the 70 kV, 80 kV, 90 kV, 100 kV, and 120 kV groups was − 95.6 ± 9.6 HU, − 90.2 ± 11.5 HU, − 87.3 ± 9.9 HU, − 82.7 ± 6.2 HU, and − 79.3 ± 6.8 HU, respectively (p < 0.001).
Conclusions
In patients without plaque on cCTA, PCATMA varied by tube voltage, with minor differences in PCATMA between coronary arteries (LAD, LCX, RCA). PCATMA values need to be interpreted taking into account tube voltage setting.
Key Points
• In patients without plaque on cCTA, PCATMAdiffers slightly by coronary artery (LAD, LCX, RCA).
• Tube voltage of cCTA affects PCATMAmeasurement, with mean PCATMAincreasing linearly with increasing kV.
• For longitudinal cCTA analysis of PCATMA, the use of equal kV setting is strongly recommended.
Electronic supplementary material
The online version of this article (10.1007/s00330-020-07069-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse