Computed tomography of coronary artery disease

Evaluation of isolated abdominal visceral artery dissection with multi-scale spiral computed tomography: a retrospective case series

Background

To evaluate the role of multi-slice spiral computed tomography (MSCT) angiography in the diagnosis of spontaneous isolated visceral artery dissection (SIVAD).

Methods

Twenty-seven patients with abdominal SIVAD were included in the study. The MSCT scans of the patients were subjected to various post-processing techniques to visualize the visceral artery wall. Clinical features including arterial dissection, thrombosis, dissection length, true/false lumen, and complications were recorded.

Results

Type I, IIa, and IIb SIVADs were observed in 11, 6, and 10 patients, respectively. Superior mesenteric artery (SMA) dissection was the most common (n = 16), followed by abdominal aortic dissection (n = 6), splenic artery dissection (n = 2), renal artery dissection (n = 2), and splenic artery dissection (n = 1). One patient with SMA dissection suffered small intestine ischemia, 1 with splenic artery dissection had splenic infarction, and 1 patient with left renal artery dissection experienced renal infarction. The false lumen was bigger than the true lumen in 20 patients, with 9 patients having thrombus. The true lumen was bigger than the false lumen in 7 patients.

Conclusions

MSCT angiography is a valuable technique in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with SIVAD. Patients with abdominal pain suspected due to SIVAD should be examined with MSCT angiography for early detection of SIVAD.

Prognostic value of normal and non-obstructive coronary artery disease based on CT angiography findings. A 12 month follow up study

Introduction: The advent of multi-slice computed tomography (CT) technology has provided a new promising tool for non-invasive assessment of the coronary arteries. However, as the prognostic outcome of patients with normal or non-significant finding on computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) is not well-known, this study was aimed to determine the prognostic value of CTCA in patients with either normal or non-significant CTCA findings.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study was performed on patients who were referred for CTCA to the hospital. 527 patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease (CAD), who had undergone CTCA within one year were enrolled. Among them, data of 465 patients who had normal (no stenosis, n=362) or non-significant CTCA findings (stenosis <50% of luminal narrowing, n=103) were analyzed and prevalence of cardiac risk factors and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) were compared between these groups. In addition, a correlation between these factors and the number of involved coronary arteries was also determined.

Results: After a mean follow-up duration of 13.11±4.63 months, all cases were alive except for three patients who died by non-cardiac events. Prevalence of MACE was 0% and 3% in normal CTCA group and non-significant groups, respectively. There was no correlation found between the number of involved coronary arteries and the prevalence of MACE (P = 0.57).

Conclusion: A normal CTCA could be associated with extremely low risk of MACE over the first year after the initial imaging, whereas non-significant obstruction in coronary arteries may be associated with a slightly higher risk of MACE.

Coronary computed tomography angiography of spontaneous coronary artery dissection: a case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) has gained wide acceptance in the evaluation of the cardiovascular system. Of particular clinical interest is its ability to non-invasively evaluate coronary arteries in patients presenting to the emergency room. In acute coronary syndromes, myocardial ischemia is most often caused by atherosclerosis. We present a case of a rare cause of acute coronary syndrome, spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD), which was initially evaluated with MDCT and followed by intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and invasive coronary angiography (ICA). We discuss the findings and role of each modality with particular attention to coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) in the diagnosis and management of SCAD. As the use of CCTA in the emergency department continues to rise, radiologists must become familiar with CT appearance of SCAD.

CASE REPORT

We report the multidetector computed tomography (MDCT), intravascular ultrasound (IVUS), and invasive coronary angiography (ICA) findings in a case of spontaneous coronary artery dissection of the left anterior descending artery in a previously healthy 23-year-old man. The role of coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) in diagnosis and management of this potentially life-threatening condition is discussed.

CONCLUSIONS

In the clinical setting of acute coronary syndrome, SCAD must be a consideration, particularly in young patients without clear risk factors for coronary artery disease and in women in the peripartum period. CCTA is a very helpful diagnostic tool to diagnose the condition in a non-invasive manner and to follow up after treatment.