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Shang J, Guo Y, Ma Y, Hou Y. Cardiac computed tomography radiomics: a narrative review of current status and future directions. Quant Imaging Med Surg 2022; 12:3436-3453. [PMID: 35655815 PMCID: PMC9131324 DOI: 10.21037/qims-21-1022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE In an era of profound growth of medical data and rapid development of advanced imaging modalities, precision medicine increasingly requires further expansion of what can be interpreted from medical images. However, the current interpretation of cardiac computed tomography (CT) images mainly depends on subjective and qualitative analysis. Radiomics uses advanced image analysis to extract numerous quantitative features from digital images that are unrecognizable to the naked eye. Visualization of these features can reveal underlying connections between image phenotyping and biological characteristics and support clinical outcomes. Although research into radiomics on cardiovascular disease began only recently, several studies have indicated its potential clinical value in assessing future cardiac risk and guiding prevention and management strategies. Our review aimed to summarize the current applications of cardiac CT radiomics in the cardiovascular field and discuss its advantages, challenges, and future directions. METHODS We searched for English-language articles published between January 2010 and August 2021 in the databases of PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar. The keywords used in the search included computed tomography or CT, radiomics, cardiovascular or cardiac. KEY CONTENT AND FINDINGS The current applications of radiomics in cardiac CT were found to mainly involve research into coronary plaques, perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT), myocardial tissue, and intracardiac lesions. Related findings on cardiac CT radiomics suggested the technique can assist the identification of vulnerable plaques or patients, improve cardiac risk prediction and stratification, discriminate myocardial pathology and etiologies behind intracardiac lesions, and offer new perspective and development prospects to personalized cardiovascular medicine. CONCLUSIONS Cardiac CT radiomics can gather additional disease-related information at a microstructural level and establish a link between imaging phenotyping and tissue pathology or biology alone. Therefore, cardiac CT radiomics has significant clinical implications, including a contribution to clinical decision-making. Along with advancements in cardiac CT imaging, cardiac CT radiomics is expected to provide more precise phenotyping of cardiovascular disease for patients and doctors, which can improve diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic decision making in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Shang
- Department of Radiology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yan Guo
- GE Healthcare, Beijing, China
| | - Yue Ma
- Department of Radiology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yang Hou
- Department of Radiology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
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Liu Y, Xu L, Gu Y, Zhang Y, Miao C. Impact of H-Type Hypertension on Pericarotid Adipose Tissue and Plaque Characteristics Based on Computed Tomography (CT) Angiography: A Propensity Score Matching Study. Med Sci Monit 2021; 27:e933351. [PMID: 34857728 PMCID: PMC8650409 DOI: 10.12659/msm.933351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND We analyzed the correlation among the inflammatory changes in pericarotid adipose tissue (PCAT), plaque characteristics, and H-type hypertension on CT angiography (CTA) and explored the utility of CTA in the prevention and treatment of carotid atherosclerosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 135 patients who underwent head and neck CTA to investigate carotid artery atherosclerosis were retrospectively analyzed. The plaque characteristic parameters (plaque burden and remodeling index), PCAT attenuation value, and net enhancement value around the carotid artery, where the plaques were located, were recorded, and confounding factors were matched by propensity score analysis. A paired t test was used to compare the differences in fat tissue inflammatory changes and plaque characteristic parameters between the 2 groups, and logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the relationship between plaque characteristics and the attenuation values and net enhancement values of PCAT. The correlation coefficient was calculated between type H hypertension and plaque risk grade. RESULTS The results of the experiment indicate that PCAT attenuation values and net enhancement values gradually increased as the degree of hypertension increased. Compared with those of patients in the normal Hcy group, these values increased more clearly in patients with high Hcy (HHcy) (r=0.641, P<0.001, r=0.581, P<0.001), although, regardless of whether the Hcy value increased, there were significant differences between the groups. However, this effect was more pronounced in patients with H-type hypertension. Logistic regression analysis of risk factors for carotid atherosclerotic plaque suggests that Hcy (OR=1.391, 95% CI 1.146-1.689, P=0.001), PCAT attenuation values (OR=1.212, 95% CI 1.074-1.367, P=0.002), and net enhancement values (OR=1.201, 95% CI 1.042-1.383, P=0.011) were independent risk factors for plaque vulnerability. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that H-type hypertension is significantly associated with PCAT attenuation and net enhancement and that PCAT net enhancement values are useful in predicting plaque risk as attenuation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Liu
- Department of Radiology, The Affiliated Lianyungang Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Lianyungang, Jiangsu, China (mainland)
| | - Lun Xu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Lianyungang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Lianyungang, Jiangsu, China (mainland)
| | - Yan Gu
- Department of Radiology, The Affiliated Lianyungang Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Lianyungang, Jiangsu, China (mainland)
| | - Yonggang Zhang
- Department of Radiology, The Affiliated Lianyungang Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Lianyungang, Jiangsu, China (mainland)
| | - Chongchang Miao
- Department of Radiology, The Affiliated Lianyungang Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Lianyungang, Jiangsu, China (mainland)
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Kwiecinski J, Dey D, Cadet S, Lee SE, Tamarappoo B, Otaki Y, Huynh PT, Friedman JD, Dweck MR, Newby DE, Yun M, Chang HJ, Slomka PJ, Berman DS. Predictors of 18F-sodium fluoride uptake in patients with stable coronary artery disease and adverse plaque features on computed tomography angiography. Eur Heart J Cardiovasc Imaging 2021; 21:58-66. [PMID: 31211387 DOI: 10.1093/ehjci/jez152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2019] [Revised: 04/01/2019] [Accepted: 05/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
AIMS In patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) and high-risk plaques (HRPs) on coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA), we sought to define qualitative and quantitative CTA predictors of abnormal coronary 18F-sodium fluoride uptake (18F-NaF) by positron emission tomography (PET). METHODS AND RESULTS Patients undergoing coronary CTA were screened for HRP. Those who presented with ≥3 CTA adverse plaque features (APFs) including positive remodelling; low attenuation plaque (LAP, <30 HU), spotty calcification; obstructive coronary stenosis ≥50%; plaque volume >100 mm3 were recruited for 18F-NaF PET. In lesions with stenosis ≥25%, quantitative plaque analysis and maximum 18F-NaF target to background ratios (TBRs) were measured. Of 55 patients, 35 (64%) manifested coronary 18F-NaF uptake. Of 68 high-risk lesions 49 (70%) had increased PET tracer activity. Of the APFs, LAP had the highest sensitivity (39.4%) and specificity (98.3%) for predicting 18F-NaF uptake. TBR values were higher in lesions with LAP compared to those without [1.6 (1.3-1.8) vs. 1.1 (1.0-1.3), P = 0.01]. On adjusted multivariable regression analysis, LAP (both qualitative and quantitative) was independently associated with plaque TBR [LAP qualitative: β = 0.47, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.30-0.65; P < 0.001] and (LAP volume: β = 0.20 per 10 mm3, 95% CI 0.13-0.27; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION In stable CAD patients with HRP, LAP is predictive of 18F-NaF coronary uptake, but 18F-NaF is often seen in the absence of LAP. If 18F-NaF uptake is shown to be associated with adverse outcomes and becomes clinically used, the presence of LAP may define patients who would not benefit from the added testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacek Kwiecinski
- Department of Imaging (Division of Nuclear Medicine), Medicine, and Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,Department of Interventional Cardiology and Angiology, Institute of Cardiology, Alpejska 42, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Damini Dey
- Department of Imaging (Division of Nuclear Medicine), Medicine, and Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Sebastien Cadet
- Department of Imaging (Division of Nuclear Medicine), Medicine, and Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Sang-Eun Lee
- Division of Cardiology, Severance Cardiovascular Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Balaji Tamarappoo
- Department of Imaging (Division of Nuclear Medicine), Medicine, and Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Yuka Otaki
- Department of Imaging (Division of Nuclear Medicine), Medicine, and Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Phi T Huynh
- Department of Imaging (Division of Nuclear Medicine), Medicine, and Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - John D Friedman
- Department of Imaging (Division of Nuclear Medicine), Medicine, and Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Mark R Dweck
- BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, UK
| | - David E Newby
- BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Mijin Yun
- Division of Cardiology, Severance Cardiovascular Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Hyuk-Jae Chang
- Division of Cardiology, Severance Cardiovascular Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Piotr J Slomka
- Department of Imaging (Division of Nuclear Medicine), Medicine, and Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Daniel S Berman
- Department of Imaging (Division of Nuclear Medicine), Medicine, and Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Kwiecinski J, Slomka PJ, Dweck MR, Newby DE, Berman DS. Vulnerable plaque imaging using 18F-sodium fluoride positron emission tomography. Br J Radiol 2019; 93:20190797. [PMID: 31804143 DOI: 10.1259/bjr.20190797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Positron emission tomography (PET) with 18F-sodium fluoride (18F-NaF) has emerged as a promising non-invasive imaging modality to identify high-risk and ruptured atherosclerotic plaques. By visualizing microcalcification, 18F-NaF PET holds clinical promise in refining how we evaluate coronary artery disease, shifting our focus from assessing disease burden to atherosclerosis activity. In this review, we provide an overview of studies that have utilized 18F-NaF PET for imaging atherosclerosis. We discuss the associations between traditional coronary artery disease measures (risk factors) and 18F-NaF plaque activity. We also present the data on the histological validation as well as show how 18F-NaF uptake is associated with plaque morphology on intravascular and CT imaging. Finally, we discuss the technical challenges associated with 18F-NaF coronary PET highlighting recent advances in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacek Kwiecinski
- Department of Imaging (Division of Nuclear Medicine), Medicine, and Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, USA.,Department of Interventional Cardiology and Angiology, Institute of Cardiology, Alpejska 42, 04-628 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Piotr J Slomka
- Department of Imaging (Division of Nuclear Medicine), Medicine, and Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Marc R Dweck
- BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4SB, UK
| | - David E Newby
- BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4SB, UK
| | - Daniel S Berman
- Department of Imaging (Division of Nuclear Medicine), Medicine, and Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, USA
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Williams MC, Dweck MR. Pericoronary adipose tissue attenuation and coronary artery disease. Eur Heart J Cardiovasc Imaging 2019; 20:644-645. [DOI: 10.1093/ehjci/jez031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Michelle C Williams
- University of Edinburgh/British Heart Foundation Centre for Cardiovascular Science, Chancellors Building, Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, UK
- Edinburgh Imaging Facility QMRI, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Marc R Dweck
- University of Edinburgh/British Heart Foundation Centre for Cardiovascular Science, Chancellors Building, Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, UK
- Edinburgh Imaging Facility QMRI, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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Peri-Coronary Adipose Tissue Density Is Associated With 18F-Sodium Fluoride Coronary Uptake in Stable Patients With High-Risk Plaques. JACC Cardiovasc Imaging 2019; 12:2000-2010. [PMID: 30772226 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmg.2018.11.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 126] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2018] [Revised: 11/12/2018] [Accepted: 11/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study aimed to assess the association between increased lesion peri-coronary adipose tissue (PCAT) density and coronary 18F-sodium fluoride (18F-NaF) uptake on positron emission tomography (PET) in stable patients with high-risk coronary plaques (HRPs) shown on coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA). BACKGROUND Coronary 18F-NaF uptake reflects the rate of calcification of coronary atherosclerotic plaque. Increased PCAT density is associated with vascular inflammation. Currently, the relationship between increased PCAT density and 18F-NaF uptake in stable patients with HRPs on coronary CTA has not been characterized. METHODS Patients who underwent coronary CTA were screened for HRP, which was defined by 3 concurrent plaque features: positive remodeling; low attenuation plaque (LAP) (<30 Hounsfield units [HU]) and spotty calcification; and obstructive coronary stenosis ≥50% (plaque volume >100 mm3). Patients with HRPs were recruited to undergo 18F-NaF PET/CT. In lesions with stenosis ≥25%, quantitative plaque analysis, mean PCAT density, maximal coronary motion-corrected 18F-NaF standard uptake values (SUVmax), and target-to-background ratios (TBR) were measured. RESULTS Forty-one patients (age 65 ± 6 years; 68% men) were recruited. Fifty-one lesions in 23 patients (56%) showed increased coronary 18F-NaF activity. Lesions with 18F-NaF uptake had higher surrounding PCAT density than those without 18F-NaF uptake (-73 HU; interquartile range -79 to -68 HU vs. -86 HU; interquartile range -94 to -80 HU; p < 0.001). 18F-NaF TBR and SUVmax were correlated with PCAT density (r = 0.63 and r = 0.68, respectively; all p < 0.001). On adjusted multiple regression analysis, increased lesion PCAT density and LAP volume were associated with 18F-NaF TBR (β = 0.25; 95% confidence interval: 0.17 to 0.34; p < 0.001 for PCAT, and β = 0.07; 95% confidence interval: 0.03 to 0.11; p = 0.002 for LAP). CONCLUSIONS In patients with HRP features on coronary CTA, increased density of PCAT was associated with focal 18F-NaF PET uptake. Simultaneous assessment of these imaging biomarkers by 18F-NaF PET and CTA might refine cardiovascular risk prediction in stable patients with HRP features.
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