In vitro optimization and comparison of CT angiography versus radial cardiovascular magnetic resonance for the quantification of cross-sectional areas and coronary endothelial function

Abstract

BackgroundOur objectives were first to determine the optimal coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) protocol for the quantification and detection of simulated coronary artery cross-sectional area (CSA) differences in vitro, and secondly to quantitatively compare the performance of the optimized CTA protocol with a previously validated radial coronary cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) technique.Methods256-multidetector CTA and radial coronary CMR were used to obtain images of a custom in vitro resolution phantom simulating a range of physiological responses of coronary arteries to stress. CSAs were automatically quantified and compared with known nominal values to determine the accuracy, precision, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and circularity of CSA measurements, as well as the limit of detection (LOD) of CSA differences. Various iodine concentrations, radiation dose levels, tube potentials, and iterative image reconstruction algorithms (ASiR-V) were investigated to determine the optimal CTA protocol. The performance of the optimized CTA protocol was then compared with a radial coronary CMR method previously developed for endothelial function assessment under both static and moving conditions.ResultsThe iodine concentration, dose level, tube potential, and reconstruction algorithm all had significant effects (all p < 0.001) on the accuracy, precision, LOD, SNR, and circularity of CSA measurements with CTA. The best precision, LOD, SNR, and circularity with CTA were achieved with 6% iodine, 20 mGy, 100 kVp, and 90% ASiR-V. Compared with the optimized CTA protocol under static conditions, radial coronary CMR was less accurate (− 0.91 ± 0.13 mm2 vs. -0.35 ± 0.04 mm2, p < 0.001), but more precise (0.08 ± 0.02 mm2 vs. 0.21 ± 0.02 mm2, p < 0.001), and enabled the detection of significantly smaller CSA differences (0.16 ± 0.06 mm2 vs. 0.52 ± 0.04 mm2; p < 0.001; corresponding to CSA percentage differences of 2.3 ± 0.8% vs. 7.4 ± 0.6% for a 3-mm baseline diameter). The same results held true under moving conditions as CSA measurements with CMR were less affected by motion.ConclusionsRadial coronary CMR was more precise and outperformed CTA for the specific task of detecting small CSA differences in vitro, and was able to reliably identify CSA changes an order of magnitude smaller than those reported for healthy physiological vasomotor responses of proximal coronary arteries. However, CTA yielded more accurate CSA measurements, which may prove useful in other clinical scenarios, such as coronary artery stenosis assessment.

Reduced-iodine-dose dual-energy coronary CT angiography: qualitative and quantitative comparison between virtual monochromatic and polychromatic CT images

“…A previously described custom-designed resolution module [ 17 ] inserted in the center of an anthropomorphic chest phantom (QRM) simulating a normal (70 kg) or an overweight (120 kg) adult patient was used (Supplementary Figure B). The module consisted of a 2-cm-thick polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) slab drilled with 110 holes whose diameters matched human coronary arteries, ranging from 3.00 ± 0.004 to 3.42 ± 0.004 mm [ 18 ], in 22 steps of 0.02 mm, repeated five times at different locations in the PMMA slab.…”

Analysis of Cardiovascular Disease Angiography Process Based on Rough Set and Internet of Things

“…In recent years, cardiovascular disease has become a significant disease affecting human health and even life-threatening. The “World Health Report” pointed out that there are as many as 17.5 million deaths due to cardiovascular diseases in the world each year [ 1 , 2 ]. Among them, the death rate of patients with diseases caused by coronary artery disease also far exceeds that of cancer, which has aroused great concern.…”