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Sun Z, Ng CKC, Wong YH, Yeong CH. 3D-Printed Coronary Plaques to Simulate High Calcification in the Coronary Arteries for Investigation of Blooming Artifacts. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11091307. [PMID: 34572520 PMCID: PMC8468360 DOI: 10.3390/biom11091307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The diagnostic value of coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is significantly affected by high calcification in the coronary arteries owing to blooming artifacts limiting its accuracy in assessing the calcified plaques. This study aimed to simulate highly calcified plaques in 3D-printed coronary models. A combination of silicone + 32.8% calcium carbonate was found to produce 800 HU, representing extensive calcification. Six patient-specific coronary artery models were printed using the photosensitive polyurethane resin and a total of 22 calcified plaques with diameters ranging from 1 to 4 mm were inserted into different segments of these 3D-printed coronary models. The coronary models were scanned on a 192-slice CT scanner with 70 kV, pitch of 1.4, and slice thickness of 1 mm. Plaque attenuation was measured between 1100 and 1400 HU. Both maximum-intensity projection (MIP) and volume rendering (VR) images (wide and narrow window widths) were generated for measuring the diameters of these calcified plaques. An overestimation of plaque diameters was noticed on both MIP and VR images, with measurements on the MIP images close to those of the actual plaque sizes (<10% deviation), and a large measurement discrepancy observed on the VR images (up to 50% overestimation). This study proves the feasibility of simulating extensive calcification in coronary arteries using a 3D printing technique to develop calcified plaques and generate 3D-printed coronary models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhonghua Sun
- Discipline of Medical Radiation Science, Curtin Medical School, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6845, Australia;
- Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute (CHIRI), Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6845, Australia
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +61-8-9266-7509; Fax: +61-8-9266-2377
| | - Curtise Kin Cheung Ng
- Discipline of Medical Radiation Science, Curtin Medical School, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6845, Australia;
- Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute (CHIRI), Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6845, Australia
| | - Yin How Wong
- Faculty of Health & Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Taylor’s University, No. 1, Jalan Taylor’s, Subang Jaya 47500, Malaysia; (Y.H.W.); (C.H.Y.)
| | - Chai Hong Yeong
- Faculty of Health & Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Taylor’s University, No. 1, Jalan Taylor’s, Subang Jaya 47500, Malaysia; (Y.H.W.); (C.H.Y.)
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Sun Z, Chaichana T. An investigation of correlation between left coronary bifurcation angle and hemodynamic changes in coronary stenosis by coronary computed tomography angiography-derived computational fluid dynamics. Quant Imaging Med Surg 2017; 7:537-548. [PMID: 29184766 DOI: 10.21037/qims.2017.10.03] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Background To investigate the correlation between left coronary bifurcation angle and coronary stenosis as assessed by coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA)-generated computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis when compared to the CCTA analysis of coronary lumen stenosis and plaque lesion length with invasive coronary angiography (ICA) as the reference method. Methods Thirty patients (22 males, mean age: 59±6.9 years) with calcified plaques at the left coronary artery were included in the study with all patients undergoing CCTA and ICA examinations. CFD simulation was performed to analyze hemodynamic changes to the left coronary artery models in terms of wall shear stress, wall pressure and flow velocity, with findings correlated to the coronary stenosis and degree of bifurcation angle. Calcified plaque length was measured in the left coronary artery with diagnostic value compared to that from coronary lumen and bifurcation angle assessments. Results Of 26 significant stenosis at left anterior descending (LAD) and 13 at left circumflex (LCx) on CCTA, only 14 and 5 of them were confirmed to be >50% stenosis at LAD and LCx respectively on ICA, resulting in sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of 100%, 52%, 49% and 100%. The mean plaque length was measured 5.3±3.6 and 4.4±1.9 mm at LAD and LCx, respectively, with diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV being 92.8%, 46.7%, 61.9% and 87.5% for extensively calcified plaques. The mean bifurcation angle was measured 83.9±13.6º and 83.8±13.3º on CCTA and ICA, respectively, with no significant difference (P=0.98). The corresponding sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV were 100%, 78.6%, 84.2% and 100% based on bifurcation angle measurement on CCTA, 100%, 73.3%, 78.9% and 100% based on bifurcation angle measurements on ICA, respectively. Wall shear stress was noted to increase in the LAD and LCx models with significant stenosis and wider angulation (>80º), but demonstrated little or no change in most of the coronary models with no significant stenosis and narrower angulation (<80º). Conclusions This study further clarifies the relationship between left coronary bifurcation angle and significant stenosis, with angulation measurement serving as a more accurate approach than coronary lumen assessment or plaque lesion length for determining significant coronary stenosis. Left coronary bifurcation angle is suggested to be incorporated into coronary artery disease (CAD) assessment when diagnosing significant CAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhonghua Sun
- Department of Medical Radiation Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, Australia
| | - Thanapong Chaichana
- Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Liverpool Hope University, Liverpool, England, UK
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Takaoka H, Funabashi N, Uehara M, Ozawa K, Kobayashi Y. Respiratory function in candidates for cardiac 320-slice CT: Relationship between coronary arterial findings, left ventricle size, and ventricular function, with emphysema, FEV1.0%, %VC, and prognosis. Int J Cardiol 2016; 224:4-7. [PMID: 27595977 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2016.08.336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2016] [Accepted: 08/24/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hiroyuki Takaoka
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba City, Chiba 260-8670, Japan
| | - Nobusada Funabashi
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba City, Chiba 260-8670, Japan.
| | - Masae Uehara
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba City, Chiba 260-8670, Japan
| | - Koya Ozawa
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba City, Chiba 260-8670, Japan
| | - Yoshio Kobayashi
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba City, Chiba 260-8670, Japan
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Ghekiere O, Nchimi A, Djekic J, El Hachemi M, Mancini I, Hansen D, Vanhoenacker P, de Roos A, Dendale P. Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography: Patient-related factors determining image quality using a second-generation 320-slice CT scanner. Int J Cardiol 2016; 221:970-6. [PMID: 27441477 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2016.07.141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2016] [Revised: 07/07/2016] [Accepted: 07/08/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To investigate the diagnostic confidence of Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography (CCTA) and the effect of patient-related factors on CCTA image quality using a second-generation 320-slice scanner. METHODS AND RESULTS 200 consecutive patients (mean age 60±12years; 109 men) prospectively underwent CCTA. The mean body mass index (BMI) was 27.1±4.9kg/m(2); the median heart rate (HR) was 60.0 (interquartile range (IQR), 53.9-66.1) beats per minute (bpm). The median segment's diameter was 2.8 (IQR, 2.2-3.4) mm. For each coronary segment ≥1.5mm in diameter, two readers scored: diameter narrowing as < or ≥50%, overall diagnostic confidence and motion-related image quality, with interobserver agreement kappa-values of 0.89, 0.91 and 0.61 respectively. Seventy-nine of the 2505 evaluated segments (3.2%) had non-diagnostic image quality because of coronary calcifications (66/79; 83.5%), stent- (6/79; 7.5%), pacemaker- (2/79; 2.5%) or motion-related artifacts (5/79; 6.5%). The effect of patient-related factors on motion-related image quality was investigated by multinomial logistic regression in 181 patients with calcium score (IQR, 0-446.5). Increasing coronary diameter was the most improving image quality factor (odds ratio (OR), 1.8637; p<0.001), marginally followed by lower HR (OR, 0.9547; p<0.001) and calcium score (OR, 0.9997; p=0.04). Gender (p=0.70), age (p=0.24) and BMI (p=0.45) did not affect image quality. CONCLUSION Using a second-generation 320-slice scanner, CCTA diagnostic confidence is predominantly affected by coronary calcifications, whereas motion-related image quality is non-diagnostic only in exceptional cases and mainly influenced by the coronary diameter. For future developments, our study findings therefore suggest greater requirements concerning spatial resolution and calcium-related artifact removal than concerning temporal resolution, especially to improve diagnostic confidence in patient groups with smaller coronary diameters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivier Ghekiere
- Department of Radiology, Centre Hospitalier Chrétien (CHC), Rue de Hesbaye, 75, B-4000 Liège, Belgium; Department of Radiology, Jessa Hospital, Stadsomvaart 11, B-3500 Hasselt, Belgium; Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Biomed and Reval, Hasselt University, Agoralaan, Building A and C, B-3500 Hasselt, Belgium.
| | - Alain Nchimi
- Liège University (ULg), GIGA Cardiovascular Sciences, Domaine Universitaire du Sart Tilman, Rue de l'hôpital, 1, B-4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - Julien Djekic
- Department of Radiology, Centre Hospitalier Chrétien (CHC), Rue de Hesbaye, 75, B-4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - Mounia El Hachemi
- Liège University (ULg), GIGA Cardiovascular Sciences, Domaine Universitaire du Sart Tilman, Rue de l'hôpital, 1, B-4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - Isabelle Mancini
- Department of Radiology, Centre Hospitalier Chrétien (CHC), Rue de Hesbaye, 75, B-4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - Dominique Hansen
- Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Biomed and Reval, Hasselt University, Agoralaan, Building A and C, B-3500 Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Piet Vanhoenacker
- Department of Radiology, OLV Hospital Aalst, Moorselbaan 164, B-9300 Aalst, Belgium
| | - Albert de Roos
- Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef, 2, NL-2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Paul Dendale
- Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Biomed and Reval, Hasselt University, Agoralaan, Building A and C, B-3500 Hasselt, Belgium; Heart Center Hasselt, Jessa Hospital, Stadsomvaart, 11, B-3500 Hasselt, Belgium
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Coronary CT angiography in calcified coronary plaques: Comparison of diagnostic accuracy between bifurcation angle measurement and coronary lumen assessment for diagnosing significant coronary stenosis. Int J Cardiol 2015; 203:78-86. [PMID: 26495804 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2015.10.079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2015] [Revised: 09/21/2015] [Accepted: 10/12/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND To investigate the diagnostic value of coronary CT angiography (CCTA) by bifurcation angle measurement in the assessment of calcified plaques compared to conventional coronary lumen analysis. METHODS Fifty-three patients with calcified plaques identified on CCTA in the left coronary artery were included in the study. Minimal lumen diameter (MLD) and bifurcation angle between the left anterior descending (LAD) and left circumflex (LCx) arteries were measured and compared between CCTA and invasive coronary angiography (ICA), while the areas under the curves (AUCs) by receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis (ROC) were compared between CCTA and ICA with regard to the diagnostic value of using bifurcation angle as a criterion. RESULTS On a per-vessel assessment, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) and 95% confidence interval (CI) with the use of bifurcation angle for determining coronary stenosis were 100% (86%, 100%), 79% (59%, 92%), 81% (62%, 92%), and 100% (85%, 100%) for CCTA, and 100% (86%, 100%), 82% (63%, 94%), 83% (65%, 94%), and 100% (85%, 100%) for ICA, respectively. While the sensitivity and NPV remained unchanged, the specificity and PPV of CCTA by MLD were 33% (21%, 47%) and 43% (31%, 56%). The AUCs by ROC curve analysis for CCTA and ICA bifurcation angle measurements demonstrated no significant difference (p>0.05, 0.79 vs 0.86, and 0.70 vs 0.68 at the LAD and LCx assessment, respectively). CONCLUSION Coronary CT angiography by bifurcation angle measurement shows significant improvement in the diagnosis of calcified plaques with diagnostic value comparable to invasive coronary angiography.
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Takaoka H, Funabashi N, Fujimoto Y, Kobayashi Y. Detection of significant stenosis in the Left Anterior Descending Artery by ‘Virtual Myocardial Perfusion’ Bolus Tracking, 320 Slice Computed Tomography. Int J Cardiol 2014; 177:1001-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2014.09.141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2014] [Revised: 09/10/2014] [Accepted: 09/27/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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CHA2DS2-VASc score is a useful-predictor of not prognosis but coronary-arteriosclerosis in chronic atrial-fibrillation compared with CHADS2 score: A two-center study of 320-slice CT, part 2. Int J Cardiol 2014; 177:368-73. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2014.07.128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2014] [Accepted: 07/26/2014] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Takahashi S, Kawasaki M, Miyata S, Suzuki K, Yamaura M, Ido T, Aoyama T, Fujiwara H, Minatoguchi S. Feasibility of tissue characterization of coronary plaques using 320-detector row computed tomography: comparison with integrated backscatter intravascular ultrasound. Heart Vessels 2014; 31:29-37. [DOI: 10.1007/s00380-014-0577-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2014] [Accepted: 08/29/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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Ozawa K, Funabashi N, Takaoka H, Ueda M, Kobayashi. Y. Risk stratification using a combination of left ventricular fibrosis and number of morphological types of ventricular premature beats in cardiomyopathy subjects without obstructed coronary arteries. Int J Cardiol 2014; 176:236-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2014.06.070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2014] [Accepted: 06/28/2014] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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