[Consensus recommendations of the German Radiology Society (DRG), the German Cardiac Society (DGK) and the German Society for Pediatric Cardiology (DGPK) on the use of cardiac imaging with computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging]

Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) have been developed rapidly in the last decade. Technical improvements and broad availability of modern CT and MRI scanners have led to an increasing and regular use of both diagnostic methods in clinical routine. Therefore, this German consensus document has been developed in collaboration by the German Cardiac Society, German Radiology Society, and the German Society for Pediatric Cardiology. It is not oriented on modalities and methods, but rather on disease entities. This consensus document deals with coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathies, arrhythmias, valvular diseases, pericardial diseases and structural changes, as well as with congenital heart defects. For different clinical scenarios both imaging modalities CT and MRI are compared and evaluated in the specific context.

Quantitative CT imaging of the spatio-temporal distribution patterns of vasa vasorum in aortas of apoE-/-/LDL-/- double knockout mice

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the distribution of vasa vasorum (VV) relative to advanced atherosclerotic lesions (calcified, fibrotic or hemorrhaged) along the aortic wall of apoE-/-/LDL-/- mice at the age of 25 and 80 weeks using high-resolution nano-CT.

METHODS

Aortas from male apoE-/-/LDL-/- mice at the age of 25 weeks (n=4) and 80 weeks (n=7) were infused in situ with contrast agent and harvested for scanning with nano-CT. The spatial distribution of vasa vasorum [number and area/cross-section (mm2)] was compared to aortic luminal cross-sectional area and plaque cross-sectional area in the ascending aorta, aortic arch and descending aorta. Results were complemented with co-localized histology.

RESULTS

The number and total luminal cross-sectional area of VV showed a significant decrease in the ascending aorta and aortic arch from 25 to 80 weeks but not in the descending aorta. The number and cross-sectional area of VV showed significant local differences depending on whether it was near a fibrotic, and hemorrhaged or calcified plaque in animals at the age of 80 weeks. Area of VV progressively increased along the aorta from least in the ascending aorta<aortic arch<descending aorta in animals at the age of 80 weeks and is inverse in animals aged 25 weeks.

CONCLUSION

Atherosclerotic lesion type is correlated to the number and cross-sectional area of VV in different aortic segments in apoE-/-/LDL-/- mice. The chronological development of VV along the aorta proceeds distally from the ascending aorta and aortic arch.