The relation of heart rate and image quality in the depiction of coronary arteries, heart valves and myocardium was assessed on a dual-source computed tomography system (DSCT). Coronary CT angiography was performed on a DSCT (Somatom Definition, Siemens) with high concentration contrast media (Iopromide, Ultravist 370, Schering) in 24 patients with heart rates between 44 and 92 beats per minute. Images were reconstructed over the whole cardiac cycle in 10% steps. Two readers independently assessed the image quality with regard to the diagnostic evaluation of right and left coronary artery, heart valves and left ventricular myocardium for the assessment of vessel wall changes, coronary stenoses, valve morphology and function and ventricular function on a three point grading scale. The image quality ratings at the optimal reconstruction interval were 1.24+/-0.42 for the right and 1.09+/-0.27 for the left coronary artery. A reconstruction of diagnostic systolic and diastolic images is possible for a wide range of heart rates, allowing also a functional evaluation of valves and myocardium. Dual-source CT offers very robust diagnostic image quality in a wide range of heart rates. The high temporal resolution now also makes a functional evaluation of the heart valves and myocardium possible.

Whole-body MDCT leads to a significantly lower detection rate and staging in patients with multiple myeloma.

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Outcome of patients suffering from traumatic brain injury (TBI) depends on the development of secondary brain damage. In this context, recent studies underlined the role of the natriuretic peptides- atrial natriuretic peptide and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP)-in aneurysmatic subarachnoidal hemorrhage (SAH). Especially BNP correlates with intracranial pressure and clinical outcome after SAH. Since its role in TBI remains unclear, the intracranial and systemic concentrations of N-terminal (NT)-proBNP were analyzed in patients suffering from severe TBI. We measured NT-proBNP levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum of 14 patients suffering from severe TBI (GCS15 mm Hg (n=6), the serum (800+/-150 pg/mL) and CSF levels (55+/-9 pg/mL) of NT-proBNP were significantly increased after 24 h, as compared to patients with ICP15 mm Hg. Further studies are currently performed to elucidate the physiologic role of NT-proBNP in TBI.