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Osborne-Grinter M, Ali A, Williams MC. Prevalence and clinical implications of coronary artery calcium scoring on non-gated thoracic computed tomography: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur Radiol 2024; 34:4459-4474. [PMID: 38133672 PMCID: PMC11213779 DOI: 10.1007/s00330-023-10439-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Coronary artery calcifications (CACs) indicate the presence of coronary artery disease. CAC can be found on thoracic computed tomography (CT) conducted for non-cardiac reasons. This systematic review and meta-analysis of non-gated thoracic CT aims to assess the clinical impact and prevalence of CAC. METHODS Online databases were searched for articles assessing prevalence, demographic characteristics, accuracy and prognosis of incidental CAC on non-gated thoracic CT. Meta-analysis was performed using a random effects model. RESULTS A total of 108 studies (113,406 patients) were included (38% female). Prevalence of CAC ranged from 2.7 to 100% (pooled prevalence 52%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 46-58%). Patients with CAC were older (pooled standardised mean difference 0.88, 95% CI 0.65-1.11, p < 0.001), and more likely to be male (pooled odds ratio [OR] 1.95, 95% CI 1.55-2.45, p < 0.001), with diabetes (pooled OR 2.63, 95% CI 1.95-3.54, p < 0.001), hypercholesterolaemia (pooled OR 2.28, 95% CI 1.33-3.93, p < 0.01) and hypertension (pooled OR 3.89, 95% CI 2.26-6.70, p < 0.001), but not higher body mass index or smoking. Non-gated CT assessment of CAC had excellent agreement with electrocardiogram-gated CT (pooled correlation coefficient 0.96, 95% CI 0.92-0.98, p < 0.001). In 51,582 patients, followed-up for 51.6 ± 27.4 months, patients with CAC had increased all cause mortality (pooled relative risk [RR] 2.13, 95% CI 1.57-2.90, p = 0.004) and major adverse cardiovascular events (pooled RR 2.91, 95% CI 2.26-3.93, p < 0.001). When CAC was present on CT, it was reported in between 18.6% and 93% of reports. CONCLUSION CAC is a common, but underreported, finding on non-gated CT with important prognostic implications. CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT Coronary artery calcium is an important prognostic indicator of cardiovascular disease. It can be assessed on non-gated thoracic CT and is a commonly underreported finding. This represents a significant population where there is a potential missed opportunity for lifestyle modification recommendations and preventative therapies. This study aims to highlight the importance of reporting incidental coronary artery calcium on non-gated thoracic CT. KEY POINTS • Coronary artery calcification is a common finding on non-gated thoracic CT and can be reliably identified compared to gated-CT. • Coronary artery calcification on thoracic CT is associated with an increased risk of all cause mortality and major adverse cardiovascsular events. • Coronary artery calcification is frequently not reported on non-gated thoracic CT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maia Osborne-Grinter
- BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
- University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
| | - Adnan Ali
- School of Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | - Michelle C Williams
- BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Edinburgh Imaging Facility QMRI, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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Malik RF, Sun KJ, Azadi JR, Lau BD, Whelton S, Arbab-Zadeh A, Wilson RF, Johnson PT. Opportunistic Screening for Coronary Artery Disease: An Untapped Population Health Resource. J Am Coll Radiol 2024; 21:880-889. [PMID: 38382860 DOI: 10.1016/j.jacr.2024.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Coronary artery disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. At-risk asymptomatic adults are eligible for screening with electrocardiogram-gated coronary artery calcium (CAC) CT, which aids in risk stratification and management decision-making. Incidental CAC (iCAC) is easily quantified on chest CT in patients imaged for noncardiac indications; however, radiologists do not routinely report the finding. OBJECTIVE To determine the clinical significance of CAC identified incidentally on routine chest CT performed for noncardiac indications. DESIGN An informationist developed search strategies in MEDLINE, Embase, and SCOPUS, and two reviewers independently screened results at both the abstract and full text levels. Data extracted from eligible articles included age, rate of iCAC identification, radiologist reporting frequency, impact on downstream medical management, and association of iCAC with patient outcomes. RESULTS From 359 unique citations, 83 research publications met inclusion criteria. The percentage of patients with iCAC ranged from 9% to 100%. Thirty-one investigations measured association(s) between iCAC and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, and 29 identified significant correlations, including nonfatal myocardial infarction, fatal myocardial infarction, major adverse cardiovascular event, cardiovascular death, and all-cause death. iCAC was present in 20% to 100% of the patients in these cohorts, but when present, iCAC was reported by radiologists in only 31% to 44% of cases. Between 18% and 77% of patients with iCAC were not on preventive medications in studies that reported these data. Seven studies measured the effect of reporting on guideline directed medical therapy, and 5 (71%) reported an increase in medication prescriptions after diagnosis of iCAC, with one confirming reductions in low-density lipoprotein levels. Twelve investigations reported good concordance between CAC grade on noncardiac CT and Agatston score on electrocardiogram-gated cardiac CT, and 10 demonstrated that artificial intelligence tools can reliably calculate an Agatston score on noncardiac CT. CONCLUSION A body of evidence demonstrates that patients with iCAC on routine chest CT are at risk for cardiovascular disease events and death, but they are often undiagnosed. Uniform reporting of iCAC in the chest CT impression represents an opportunity for radiology to contribute to early identification of high-risk individuals and potentially reduce morbidity and mortality. AI tools have been validated to calculate Agatston score on routine chest CT and hold the best potential for facilitating broad adoption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rubab F Malik
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Kristie J Sun
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Javad R Azadi
- Assistant Professor of Radiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Brandyn D Lau
- Assistant Professor of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Seamus Whelton
- Associate Professor of Radiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Armin Arbab-Zadeh
- Director of Cardiac CT, Professor of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Renee F Wilson
- Evidence Based Practice Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Pamela T Johnson
- Vice President of Care Transformation, Vice Chair of Quality and Safety in Radiology, and Professor of Radiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
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Parsa S, Saleh A, Raygor V, Hoeting N, Rao A, Navar AM, Rohatgi A, Kay F, Abbara S, Khera A, Joshi PH. Measurement and Application of Incidentally Detected Coronary Calcium: JACC Review Topic of the Week. J Am Coll Cardiol 2024; 83:1557-1567. [PMID: 38631775 DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2024.01.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring is a powerful tool for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk stratification. The nongated, noncontrast chest computed tomography scan (NCCT) has emerged as a source of CAC characterization with tremendous potential due to the high volume of NCCT scans. Application of incidental CAC characterization from NCCT has raised questions around score accuracy, standardization of methodology including the possibility of deep learning to automate the process, and the risk stratification potential of an NCCT-derived score. In this review, the authors aim to summarize the role of NCCT-derived CAC in preventive cardiovascular health today as well as explore future avenues for eventual clinical applicability in specific patient populations and broader health systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shyon Parsa
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiology, the UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA; Department of Internal Medicine, Stanford University Hospital, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Adam Saleh
- Texas A&M University, Engineering Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Viraj Raygor
- Sutter Health, Cardiovascular Health, Palo Alto, California, USA
| | - Natalie Hoeting
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiology, the UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Anjali Rao
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiology, the UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Ann Marie Navar
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiology, the UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Anand Rohatgi
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiology, the UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Fernando Kay
- Department of Radiology, Division of Cardiothoracic Imaging, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Suhny Abbara
- Department of Radiology, Division of Cardiothoracic Imaging, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Amit Khera
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiology, the UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Parag H Joshi
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiology, the UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.
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Lin Y, Lin G, Peng MT, Kuo CT, Wan YL, Cherng WJ. The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Coronary Calcium Scoring in Standard Cardiac Computed Tomography and Chest Computed Tomography With Different Reconstruction Kernels. J Thorac Imaging 2024; 39:111-118. [PMID: 37982516 DOI: 10.1097/rti.0000000000000765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To assess the correlation of coronary calcium score (CS) obtained by artificial intelligence (AI) with those obtained by electrocardiography gated standard cardiac computed tomography (CCT) and nongated chest computed tomography (ChCT) with different reconstruction kernels. PATIENTS AND METHODS Seventy-six patients received standard CCT and ChCT simultaneously. We compared CS obtained in 4 groups: CS CCT , by the traditional method from standard CCT, 25 cm field of view, 3 mm slice thickness, and kernel filter convolution 12 (FC12); CS AICCT , by AI from the standard CCT; CS ChCTsoft , by AI from the non-gated CCT, 40 cm field of view, 3 mm slice thickness, and a soft kernel FC02; and CS ChCTsharp , by AI from CCT image with same parameters for CS ChCTsoft except for using a sharp kernel FC56. Statistical analyses included Spearman rank correlation coefficient (ρ), intraclass correlation (ICC), Bland-Altman plots, and weighted kappa analysis (κ). RESULTS The CS AICCT was consistent with CS CCT (ρ = 0.994 and ICC of 1.00, P < 0.001) with excellent agreement with respect to cardiovascular (CV) risk categories of the Agatston score (κ = 1.000). The correlation between CS ChCTsoft and CS ChCTsharp was good (ρ = 0.912, 0.963 and ICC = 0.929, 0.948, respectively, P < 0.001) with a tendency of underestimation (Bland-Altman mean difference and 95% upper and lower limits of agreements were 329.1 [-798.9 to 1457] and 335.3 [-651.9 to 1322], respectively). The CV risk category agreement between CS ChCTsoft and CS ChCTsharp was moderate (κ = 0.556 and 0.537, respectively). CONCLUSIONS There was an excellent correlation between CS CCT and CS AICCT , with excellent agreement between CV risk categories. There was also a good correlation between CS CCT and CS obtained by ChCT albeit with a tendency for underestimation and moderate accuracy in terms of CV risk assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yenpo Lin
- Department of Medical Imaging and Intervention
| | - Gigin Lin
- Department of Medical Imaging and Intervention
| | | | - Chi-Tai Kuo
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine; Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan City, Taiwan
| | | | - Wen-Jin Cherng
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine; Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan City, Taiwan
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Xiao H, Wang X, Yang P, Wang L, Xu J. Coronary artery calcium scoring assessment in ultra-low-dose chest computed tomography. Clin Imaging 2024; 106:110045. [PMID: 38056107 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinimag.2023.110045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To investigate the effect of non-electrocardiogram (ECG) -triggered ultra-low-dose CT (ULD-CT) with different reconstruction protocols on coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring assessment, compared with ECG-triggered CAC CT (CAC-CT). METHODS This prospective study included 115 patients who underwent CAC-CT and ULD-CT scans under the same topogram images. CAC-CT adopted a prospective ECG-triggered sequential acquisition with a tube potential of 120 kV, and the reconstruction protocol was standard Qr36 + slice 3 mm (CACQr-3mm group). ULD-CT adopted a non-ECG-triggered high-pitch acquisition with a tube potential of Sn100 kV, and four groups of images (named ULDQr-3mm, ULDSa-3mm, ULDQr-1.5mm, and ULDSa-1.5mm) were reconstructed using different reconstruction algorithms (standard Qr36, kV-independent Sa36) and slice thicknesses (3 mm, 1.5 mm). The accuracy of CAC detection by ULD-CT was calculated. The agreement of the CAC score between ULD-CT and CAC-CT scans was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and Bland-Altman plot, and the agreement of risk categorization was assessed using weighted kappa. RESULTS The sensitivity and specificity of the ULDSa-1.5mm group for detecting positive CAC were 100% and 97.4%, respectively (k = 0.980). The CAC score for the ULDSa-3mm and ULDSa-1.5mm groups demonstrated excellent agreement with the CACQr-3mm group (ICC = 0.992, 0.990, respectively), with a mean difference of -12.3 and - 12.4. The agreement of risk categorization based on absolute and percentile CAC score between the ULDSa-1.5mm and CACQr-3mm groups was excellent (weighted k = 0.954, 0.983, respectively), and risk reclassification rates were low (3.5%, 2.8%, respectively). The effective dose was reduced by approximately 77.2% for the ULD-CT compared to the CAC-CT (0.18 mSv vs. 0.79 mSv, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION Reconstruction with a 1.5-mm slice thickness and kV-independent iterative algorithmic protocol in ULD-CT yielded excellent agreement in CAC score quantification and risk categorization compared with ECG-triggered CAC-CT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huawei Xiao
- Heart Center, Department of Radiology, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310014, China
| | - Xiangquan Wang
- Heart Center, Department of Radiology, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310014, China
| | - Panfeng Yang
- Heart Center, Department of Radiology, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310014, China
| | - Ling Wang
- Heart Center, Department of Radiology, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310014, China
| | - Jian Xu
- Heart Center, Department of Radiology, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310014, China.
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Zhao K, Zhang L, Wang L, Zeng J, Zhang Y, Xie X. Benign incidental cardiac findings in chest and cardiac CT imaging. Br J Radiol 2023; 96:20211302. [PMID: 35969186 PMCID: PMC9975525 DOI: 10.1259/bjr.20211302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/06/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
With the continuous expansion of the disease scope of chest CT and cardiac CT, the number of these CT examinations has increased rapidly. In addition to their common indications, many incidental cardiac findings can be observed when carefully evaluating the coronary arteries, valves, pericardium, ventricles, and large vessels. These findings may have clinical significance or risk of complications, but they are sometimes overlooked or may not be described in the final reports. Although most of the incidental findings are benign, timely detection and treatment can improve the management of chronic diseases or reduce the possibility of severe complications. In this review, we summarized the imaging findings, incidence rate, and clinical relevance of some benign cardiac findings such as coronary artery calcification, aortic and mitral valve calcification, aortic calcification, cardiac thrombus, myocardial bridge, aortic dilation, cardiac myxoma, pericardial cyst, and coronary artery fistula. Reporting incidental cardiac findings will help reduce the risk of severe complications or disease deterioration and contribute to the recovery of patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keke Zhao
- Department of Radiology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Haining Rd.100, Shanghai, China
| | - Lu Zhang
- Department of Radiology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Haining Rd.100, Shanghai, China
| | - Lingyun Wang
- Department of Radiology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Haining Rd.100, Shanghai, China
| | - Jinghui Zeng
- Department of Radiology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Haining Rd.100, Shanghai, China
| | - Yaping Zhang
- Department of Radiology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Haining Rd.100, Shanghai, China
| | - Xueqian Xie
- Department of Radiology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Haining Rd.100, Shanghai, China
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7
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An S, Fan R, Zhao B, Yi Q, Yao S, Shi X, Zhu Y, Yi X, Liu S. Evaluating coronary artery calcification with low-dose chest CT reconstructed by different kernels. Clin Imaging 2022; 83:166-171. [DOI: 10.1016/j.clinimag.2021.12.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Revised: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Heseltine T, Murray S, Ortega-Martorell S, Olier I, Lip GYH, Khoo S. Associations of Hepatosteatosis With Cardiovascular Disease in HIV-Positive and HIV-Negative Patients: The Liverpool HIV-Heart Project. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2021; 87:1221-1227. [PMID: 33990492 DOI: 10.1097/qai.0000000000002721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatosteatosis (HS) has been associated with cardiovascular disorders in the general population. We sought to investigate whether HS is a marker of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in HIV-positive individuals, given that metabolic syndrome is implicated in the increasing CVD burden in this population. AIMS To investigate the association of HS with CVD in HIV-positive and HIV-negative individuals. METHODS AND RESULTS We analyzed computed tomography (CT) images of 1306 subjects of whom 209 (16%) were HIV-positive and 1097 (84%) HIV-negative. CVD was quantified by the presence of coronary calcification from both dedicated cardiac CT and nondedicated thorax CT. HS was diagnosed from CT data sets in those with noncontrast dedicated cardiac CT and those with venous phase liver CT using previously validated techniques. Previous liver ultrasound was also assessed for the presence of HS. The HIV-positive group had lower mean age (P < 0.005), higher proportions of male sex (P < 0.005), and more current smokers (P < 0.005). The HIV-negative group had higher proportions of hypertension (P < 0.005), type II diabetes (P = 0.032), dyslipidemia (P < 0.005), statin use (P = 0.008), and HS (P = 0.018). The prevalence of coronary calcification was not significantly different between the groups. Logistic regression (LR) demonstrated that in the HIV-positive group, increasing age [odds ratio (OR): 1.15, P < 0.005], male sex (OR 3.37, P = 0.022), and HS (OR 3.13, P = 0.005) were independently associated with CVD. In the HIV-negative group, increasing age (OR: 1.11, P < 0.005), male sex (OR 2.97, P < 0.005), current smoking (OR 1.96, P < 0.005), and dyslipidemia (OR 1.66, P = 0.03) were independently associated with CVD. Using a machine learning random forest algorithm to assess the variables of importance, the top 3 variables of importance in the HIV-positive group were age, HS, and male sex. In the HIV-negative group, the top 3 variables were age, hypertension and male sex. The LR models predicted CVD well, with the mean area under the receiver operator curve (AUC) for the HIV-positive and HIV-negative cohorts being 0.831 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.713 to 0.928] and 0.786 (95% CI: 0.735 to 0.836), respectively. The random forest models outperformed LR models, with a mean AUC in HIV-positive and HIV-negative populations of 0.877 (95% CI: 0.775 to 0.959) and 0.828 (95% CI: 0.780 to 0.873) respectively, with differences between both methods being statistically significant. CONCLUSION In contrast to the general population, HS is a strong and independent predictor of CVD in HIV-positive individuals. This suggests that metabolic dysfunction may be attributable to the excess CVD risk seen with these patient groups. Assessment of HS may help accurate quantification of CVD risk in HIV-positive patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Heseltine
- Department of Cardiology, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool, United Kingdom
- Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
- Liverpool Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Liverpool and Liverpool Heart & Chest Hospital, Liverpool, United Kingdom ; and
| | - Scott Murray
- Liverpool Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Liverpool and Liverpool Heart & Chest Hospital, Liverpool, United Kingdom ; and
| | - Sandra Ortega-Martorell
- Liverpool Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Liverpool and Liverpool Heart & Chest Hospital, Liverpool, United Kingdom ; and
- School of Computer Science and Mathematics, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Ivan Olier
- Liverpool Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Liverpool and Liverpool Heart & Chest Hospital, Liverpool, United Kingdom ; and
- School of Computer Science and Mathematics, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Gregory Y H Lip
- Liverpool Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Liverpool and Liverpool Heart & Chest Hospital, Liverpool, United Kingdom ; and
| | - Saye Khoo
- Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
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Kim JY, Suh YJ, Han K, Choi BW. Reliability of Coronary Artery Calcium Severity Assessment on Non-Electrocardiogram-Gated CT: A Meta-Analysis. Korean J Radiol 2021; 22:1034-1043. [PMID: 33856134 PMCID: PMC8236368 DOI: 10.3348/kjr.2020.1047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2020] [Revised: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The purpose of this meta-analysis was to investigate the pooled agreements of the coronary artery calcium (CAC) severities assessed by electrocardiogram (ECG)-gated and non-ECG-gated CT and evaluate the impact of the scan parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane library were systematically searched. A modified Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 tool was used to evaluate the quality of the studies. Meta-analytic methods were utilized to determine the pooled weighted bias, limits of agreement (LOA), and the correlation coefficient of the CAC scores or the weighted kappa for the categorization of the CAC severities detected by the two modalities. The heterogeneity among the studies was also assessed. Subgroup analyses were performed based on factors that could affect the measurement of the CAC score and severity: slice thickness, reconstruction kernel, and radiation dose for non-ECG-gated CT. RESULTS A total of 4000 patients from 16 studies were included. The pooled bias was 62.60, 95% LOA were -36.19 to 161.40, and the pooled correlation coefficient was 0.94 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.89-0.97) for the CAC score. The pooled weighted kappa of the CAC severity was 0.85 (95% CI = 0.79-0.91). Heterogeneity was observed in the studies (I² > 50%, p < 0.1). In the subgroup analysis, the agreement between the CAC categorizations was better when the two CT examinations had reconstructions based on the same slice thickness and kernel. CONCLUSION The pooled agreement of the CAC severities assessed by the ECG-gated and non-ECG-gated CT was excellent; however, it was significantly affected by scan parameters, such as slice thickness and the reconstruction kernel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Young Kim
- Department of Radiology, Dongsan Hospital, Keimyung University College of Medicine, Daegu, Korea
| | - Young Joo Suh
- Department of Radiology, Research Institute of Radiological Science, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
| | - Kyunghwa Han
- Department of Radiology, Research Institute of Radiological Science, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Byoung Wook Choi
- Department of Radiology, Research Institute of Radiological Science, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
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Ki SJ, Park CH, Han K, Shin JM, Kim JY, Kim TH. Utility of the 16-cm Axial Volume Scan Technique for Coronary Artery Calcium Scoring on Non-Enhanced Chest CT: A Prospective Pilot Study. JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF RADIOLOGY 2021; 82:1493-1504. [PMID: 36238891 PMCID: PMC9431984 DOI: 10.3348/jksr.2020.0156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Revised: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Purpose This study aimed to evaluate the utility of the 16-cm axial volume scan technique for calculating the coronary artery calcium score (CACS) using non-enhanced chest CT. Materials and Methods This study prospectively enrolled 20 participants who underwent both, non-enhanced chest CT (16-cm-coverage axial volume scan technique) and calcium-score CT, with the same parameters, differing only in slice thickness (in non-enhanced chest CT = 0.625, 1.25, 2.5 mm; in calcium score CT = 2.5 mm). The CACS was calculated using the conventional Agatston method. The difference between the CACS obtained from the two CT scans was compared, and the degree of agreement for the clinical significance of the CACS was confirmed through sectional analysis. Each calcified lesion was classified by location and size, and a one-to-one comparison of non-contrast-enhanced chest CT and calcium score CT was performed. Results The correlation coefficients of the CACS obtained from the two CT scans for slice thickness of 2.5, 1.25, and 0.625 mm were 0.9850, 0.9688, and 0.9834, respectively. The mean differences between the CACS were −21.4% at 0.625 mm, −39.4% at 1.25 mm, and −76.2% at 2.5 mm slice thicknesses. Sectional analysis revealed that 16 (80%), 16 (80%), and 13 (65%) patients showed agreement for the degree of coronary artery disease at each slice interval, respectively. Inter-reader agreement was high for each slice interval. The 0.625 mm CT showed the highest sensitivity for detecting calcified lesions. Conclusion The values in the non-contrast-enhanced chest CT, using the 16-cm axial volume scan technique, were similar to those obtained using the CACS in the calcium score CT, at 0.625 mm slice thickness without electrocardiogram gating. This can ultimately help predict cardiovascular risk without additional radiation exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- So Jung Ki
- Department of Radiology and the Research Institute of Radiological Science, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Chul Hwan Park
- Department of Radiology and the Research Institute of Radiological Science, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Kyunghwa Han
- Department of Radiology and the Research Institute of Radiological Science, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jae Min Shin
- Department of Radiology and the Research Institute of Radiological Science, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Ji Young Kim
- Department of Radiology and the Research Institute of Radiological Science, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Tae Hoon Kim
- Department of Radiology and the Research Institute of Radiological Science, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
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Waltz J, Kocher M, Kahn J, Dirr M, Burt JR. The Future of Concurrent Automated Coronary Artery Calcium Scoring on Screening Low-Dose Computed Tomography. Cureus 2020; 12:e8574. [PMID: 32670710 PMCID: PMC7358941 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.8574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2020] [Accepted: 06/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) has been extensively validated for lung cancer screening in selected patient populations. Additionally, the use of gated cardiac CT to assess coronary artery calcium (CAC) burden has been validated to determine a patient's risk for major cardiovascular adverse events. This is typically performed by calculating an Agatston score based on density and overall burden of calcified plaque within the coronary arteries. Patients that qualify for LDCT for lung cancer screening commonly share major risk factors for coronary artery disease and would frequently benefit from an additional gated cardiac CT for the assessment of CAC. Given the widespread use of LDCT for lung cancer screening, we evaluated current literature regarding the use of non-gated chest CT, specifically LDCT, for the detection and grading of coronary artery calcifications. Additionally, given the evolving and increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the interpretation of radiologic studies, current literature for the use of AI in CAC assessment was reviewed. We reviewed primary scientific literature dating up to April 2020 using Pubmed and Google Scholar, with the search terms low dose CT, lung cancer screening, coronary artery calcium, EKG/cardiac gated CT, deep learning, machine learning, and AI. These publications were then independently evaluated by each member of our team. Overall, there was a consensus within these papers that LDCT for lung cancer screening plays a role in the evaluation of CAC. Most studies note the inherent problems with the evaluation of the density of coronary calcifications on LDCT to give an accurate numeric calcium or Agatston score. The current method of evaluating CAC on LDCT involves using a qualitative categorical system (none, mild, moderate, or severe). When performed by cardiac imaging experts, this method broadly correlates with traditional CAC score groups (0, 1 to 100, 101 to 400, and > 400). Furthermore, given the high sensitivity of a properly protocolled LDCT for coronary calcium, a negative study for CAC precludes the need for a dedicated gated CT assessment. However, qualitative methods are not as accurate or reproducible when performed by general radiologists. The implementation of AI in the LDCT screening process has the potential to give a quantifiable and reproducible numeric value to the calcium score, based on whole heart volume scoring of calcium. This more closely aligns with the Agatston score and serves as a better guide for treatment and risk assessment using current guidelines. We conclude that CAC should be assessed on all LDCT performed for lung cancer screening and that a qualitative categorical scoring system should be provided in the impression for each patient. Early studies involving AI for the assessment of CAC are promising, but more extensive studies are needed before a final recommendation for its use can be given. The implementation of an accurate, automated AI CAC assessment tool would improve radiologist compliance and ease of overall workflow. Ultimately, the potential end result would be improved turnaround time, better patient outcomes, and reduced healthcare costs by maximizing preventative care in this high-risk population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey Waltz
- Diagnostic Radiology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, USA
| | - Madison Kocher
- Radiology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, USA
| | - Jacob Kahn
- Radiology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, USA
| | - McKenzie Dirr
- Radiology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, USA
| | - Jeremy R Burt
- Radiology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, USA
- Cardiothoracic Imaging, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, USA
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High-pitch dual-source CT for coronary artery calcium scoring: A head-to-head comparison of non-triggered chest versus triggered cardiac acquisition. J Cardiovasc Comput Tomogr 2020; 15:65-72. [PMID: 32505593 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcct.2020.04.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2019] [Revised: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 04/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND To determine the effect of low-dose, high-pitch non-electrocardiographic (ECG)-triggered chest CT on coronary artery calcium (CAC) detection, quantification and risk stratification, compared to ECG-triggered cardiac CT. METHODS We selected 1,000 participants from the ImaLife study, 50% with coronary calcification on cardiac CT. All participants underwent non-contrast cardiac CT followed by chest CT using third-generation dual-source technology. Reconstruction settings were equal for both acquisitions. CAC scores were determined by Agatston's method, and divided dichotomously (0, >0), and into risk categories (0, 1-99, 100-399, ≥400). We investigated the influence of heart rate and body mass index (BMI) on risk reclassification. RESULTS Positive CAC scores on cardiac CT ranged from 1 to 6926 (median 39). Compared to cardiac CT, chest CT had sensitivity of 0.96 (95%CI 0.94-0.98) and specificity of 0.99 (95%CI 0.97-0.99) for CAC detection (κ = 0.95). In participants with coronary calcification on cardiac CT, CAC score on chest CT was lower than on cardiac CT (median 30 versus 40, p˂0.001). Agreement in CAC-based risk strata was excellent (weighted κ = 0.95). Sixty-five cases (6.5%) were reclassified by one risk category in chest CT, with fifty-five (84.6%) shifting downward. Higher BMI resulted in higher reclassification rate (13% for BMI ≥30 versus 5.2% for BMI <30, p = 0.001), but there was no effect of heart rate. CONCLUSION Low-dose, high-pitch chest CT, using third-generation dual-source technology shows almost perfect agreement with cardiac CT in CAC detection and risk stratification. However, low-dose chest CT mainly underestimates the CAC score as compared to cardiac CT, and results in inaccurate risk categorization in BMI ≥30.
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Suh YJ, Lee JW, Shin SY, Goo JM, Kim Y, Yong HS. Coronary artery calcium severity grading on non-ECG-gated low-dose chest computed tomography: a multiple-observer study in a nationwide lung cancer screening registry. Eur Radiol 2020; 30:3684-3691. [DOI: 10.1007/s00330-020-06707-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2019] [Revised: 12/26/2019] [Accepted: 02/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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