Objective: To investigate the dynamic change of the secundum atrial septal defect (ASD) throughout the cardiac cycle, and assess its impact on occluder selection. Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed 35 patients with ASD who received electrocardiogram-gated coronary CT angiography (CCTA) throughout the cardiac cycle as well as interventional closure therapy in Fuwai Hospital from December 2016 to December 2019. The raw data were reconstructed into 20 phasic images of RR intervals (RRI) ranging from 0 to 95% in an increment of 5% and transmitted to a workstation for postprocessing. For each phase image, CT virtual endoscopy reconstruction technique (CTVE) was used to provide views of ASD. Axial sequence assisted CT volumetric measurement (CTAS) was used to calculate the maximum dimensions in axial planes (D_a) and in superior-inferior direction (D_b). Using a formula for converting circumference to diameter, the equivalent circle dimensions were calculated (D_e, D_e=minor axis+2 (major axis-minor axis)/3). Taking the data of 75% RRI phase, the patients were divided into D_a75%RRI≥D_b75%RRI group and D_a75%RRIb75%RR group. According to the postoperative chest X-ray, the waist diameter of the occluder in the left anterior oblique plain film was measured, and its correction value (CR-POD_laoc) was calculated with the correction formula. Scatter plots of the changes of the mean values of D_a, D_b and D_e with the cardiac cycle were presented. The change and ratio of measured values of D_a and D_e at 35% and 75% RRI was calculated. The ratio of D_e change to D_a change in D_a75%RRI≥D_b75%RRI group and D_a75%RRIb75%RR group was calculated, respectively, and compared between groups. Pearson correlation analysis was used to explore the correlation between CR-POD_laoc and D_e35%RRI and D_e75%RRI. Results: A total of 35 patients, aged (42.7±15.0) years, including 10 males, were included. Among 35 patients, 8 cases were divided into group D_a75%RRI≥D_b75%RRI and 27 cases into group D_a75%RRIb75%RRI. Both D_a and D_b regularly changed at each phase throughout the cardiac cycle. The D_a changed significantly, with a maximum at phase of 35%-45% of RRI, and a minimum between phases of 90% and 0 of RRI. While the D_b showed insignificant changes during phases of 10%-90% RRI, and increased at 0-10% of RRI, then reduced in the remaining phases. The change of D_a was (6.35±2.46) mm, and the ratio of D_a values at 35% and 75% RRI was 0.77±0.08. The change of D_e was (2.28±1.32) mm, and the ratio of D_e at 35% and 75% RRI was 0.93±0.05. The ratio of D_e change to D_a change in the D_a75%RRI≥D_b75%RRI group was 0.67±0.13; while the ratio was 0.34±0.05 in D_a75%RRIb75%RR group, and there was significant difference between the two groups (P=0.02). CR-POD_laoc was positively correlated with D_{e35% RRI} (r=0.99, P<0.001) and D_{e75% RRI} (r=0.98, P<0.001). Conclusions: Most secundum ASDs show oval shape with D_b>D_a. D_b is basically constant while D_a changes significantly during cardiac cycle (10%-90% RRI). Nonetheless, both values peak and maintain the maximum status at end-systolic phase (35%-45% RRI). For patients with huge ASD, occluder selection should be based on the D_e at 35% RRI phase, which is helpful for the successful intervention.
Adult ; Cardiac-Gated Imaging Techniques ; Computed Tomography Angiography ; Coronary Angiography ; Electrocardiography/methods* ; Female ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial/surgery* ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Septal Occluder Device

We aimed to investigate the value of bone scintigraphy with additional blood pool phase (BSBP), compared with conventional bone scintigraphy (CBS), in the assessment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A total of 242 patients (43 males, 199 females; 14-78 years) with arthralgia, and underwent BSBP were retrospectively analyzed. On the first physical examination, active arthritis was found in 128 of the 242 patients. Clinical diagnosis was made by a rheumatologist on the basis of the 1987 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria, which are considered to be the gold standard. The diagnostic performances and prognostic value of BSBP and CBS were analyzed in the total patients with arthralgia and in the patients with arthritis. The sensitivity of BSBP (84.2%, 80/95) were significantly higher than that of CBS (74.8%, 72/95) in the patients with arthralgia (P = 0.039). When BSBP was interpreted with the results of elevated/positive anti-CCP antibody, its accuracy over CBS also became significantly higher (86.0%, 208/242 vs. 83.1%, 201/242 respectively, P = 0.021). The diagnostic odds ratio of BSBP positivity was higher than CBS positivity in the patients with arthralgia (26.0, 12.9-52.4 vs. 21.1, 10.8-41.3) and with arthritis (12.0, 4.9-29.4 vs. 10.0, 4.2-23.4). Both BSBP and CBS appear to provide acceptable accuracy and comparable diagnostic performance for diagnosis of RA. However, in the patients with arthralgia, BSBP was found to be more sensitive than CBS and more accurate when interpreted with the result of anti-CCP antibody. This could help physicians diagnose RA in daily clinical practice.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Arthralgia/complications ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/complications/*diagnosis ; Autoantibodies/blood ; Bone and Bones/diagnostic imaging ; Female ; *Gated Blood-Pool Imaging ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Odds Ratio ; Peptides, Cyclic/immunology ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Technetium/chemistry ; *Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Young Adult

The elastic and functional coupling of heart and vessels makes the stroke work (SW) of the heart optimal. Speckle tracking imaging (STI) can evaluate the myocardial strain and function. We studied ventricular-vascular coupling in 80 diabetic patients with different systolic function using STI. The patients were divided into two groups according to ejection fraction (EF): the diabetes mellitus with normal EF (DMN) group and the diabetes mellitus with abnormal EF (DMA) group. Forty-two volunteers served as control group. The relative wall thickness (RWT), left ventricular mass index (LVMI), stroke volume (SV), SW, rate-pressure product (RPP), systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI), left ventricular end-systolic elastance (Ees), effective arterial elasticity (Ea) and ventricular-vascular coupling index (VVI) were measured and calculated by conventional echocardiography. The longitudinal strain (LS) at basement (LSBA), papillary muscle (LSPM) and cardiac apex (LSAP) was assessed with STI. It was found: (A) compared with control group, in DMN and DMA groups, LSBA, LSPM and LSAP decreased, and they were lower in DMA group. (B) VVI, RPP and SVRI increased, and they were higher in DMN group; Ees decreased, and it was lower in DMA group. (C) LSBA, LSPM, and LSAP had negative correlation with VVI. LSAP, RWT, LVMI and SW were independent predictors for VVI. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves was used for identification of DMA and DMN with LSBA, LSPM, and LSAP, and the area under the ROC of LSAP was the largest. This study supports that myocardial LS could reflect the ventricular-vascular coupling. Different segments had an order to "respond to" the state of the coupling, and the cardiac apex might be the earliest.
Adult ; Aged ; Cardiac-Gated Single-Photon Emission Computer-Assisted Tomography ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Diabetic Cardiomyopathies ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiography ; Stroke Volume ; Vascular Resistance ; Ventricular Function

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the most robust predictor of myocardial viability among stress/rest reversibility (coronary flow reserve [CFR] impairment), 201Tl perfusion status at rest, 201Tl 24 hours redistribution and systolic wall thickening of 99mTc-methoxyisobutylisonitrile using a dual isotope gated myocardial perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) who were re-vascularized with a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 39 patients with CAD was enrolled (34 men and 5 women), aged between 36 and 72 years (mean 58 +/- 8 standard in years) who underwent both pre- and 3 months post-CABG myocardial SPECT. We analyzed 17 myocardial segments per patient. Perfusion status and wall motion were semi-quantitatively evaluated using a 4-point grading system. Viable myocardium was defined as dysfunctional myocardium which showed wall motion improvement after CABG. RESULTS: The left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) significantly increased from 37.8 +/- 9.0% to 45.5 +/- 12.3% (p < 0.001) in 22 patients who had a pre-CABG LVEF lower than 50%. Among 590 myocardial segments in the re-vascularized area, 115 showed abnormal wall motion before CABG and 73.9% (85 of 115) had wall motion improvement after CABG. In the univariate analysis (n = 115 segments), stress/rest reversibility (p < 0.001) and 201Tl rest perfusion status (p = 0.024) were significant predictors of wall motion improvement. However, in multiple logistic regression analysis, stress/rest reversibility alone was a significant predictor for post-CABG wall motion improvement (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Stress/rest reversibility (impaired CFR) during dual-isotope gated myocardial perfusion SPECT was the single most important predictor of wall motion improvement after CABG.
Adult ; Aged ; Analysis of Variance ; Cardiac-Gated Single-Photon Emission Computer-Assisted Tomography/*methods ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; Coronary Artery Disease/physiopathology/*radionuclide imaging/surgery ; Coronary Circulation/*physiology ; Coronary Disease/radionuclide imaging/surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Contraction/physiology ; Myocardium ; Nitriles/diagnostic use ; Stroke Volume/physiology ; Technetium/diagnostic use ; Ventricular Function, Left/physiology

Right ventricular (RV) pseudoaneurysm caused by trauma is very rare. We report a case of RV pseudoaneurysm which resolved without surgical treatment in a patient who survived a falling accident. Echocardiography failed to identify the pseudoaneurysm. Electrocardiography-gated CT showed a 17-mm-sized saccular pseusoaneurysm arsing from the RV outflow tract with a narrow neck. Follow-up CT after two months showed spontaneous obliteration of the lesion.
Accidental Falls ; Aneurysm, False/etiology/*radiography/ultrasonography ; Cardiac-Gated Imaging Techniques/methods ; Echocardiography/methods ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Aneurysm/etiology/*radiography/ultrasonography ; Heart Ventricles/injuries/radiography/ultrasonography ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Multidetector Computed Tomography/*methods ; Remission, Spontaneous ; Thoracic Injuries/*complications ; Wounds, Nonpenetrating/*complications

No abstract available.
*Cardiac-Gated Imaging Techniques ; Coronary Vessel Anomalies/*radiography ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Sinoatrial Node/*radiography ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/*methods

The purpose of this study was to explore the clinical value of ECG-gated dual-source CT angiography (DSCTA) in evaluating coarctation of aorta (CoA). 23 patients suspected with CoA underwent DSCTA and transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). Surgical results were taken as reference standard. 23 patients were diagnosed with CoA, 12 cases had focal stenosis of aorta, while 11 had tubular stenosis. 19 cases were associated with other cardiovascular malformations, including 5 cases of hypoplastic aortic arch, 5 of patent ductus arteriosus, 10 of ventricular septal defect, 2 of bicuspid aortic valve, 4 of collateral arteries, 2 of aberrant left subclavian artery and 2 of persistent left superior vena cava, respectively. The mean diameter of stenotic segment of aorta was (7.0 +/- 3.7) mm. In 9 patients with tubular CoA, the diameter and length of stenotic segment of aorta were (6.2 +/- 7. 3) mm and (29.2 +/- 5.9) mm, respectively. The accuracies of DSCTA and TTE in the diagnosis of CoA were 100% and 91.3% (P > 0.05), respectively. It is well concluded that ECG-gated DSCTA could accurately evaluate CoA and associated cardiovascular malformations, and provide detailed anatomic information before surgery.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Angiography ; methods ; Aortic Coarctation ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Cardiac-Gated Imaging Techniques ; methods ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Contrast Media ; Echocardiography ; Electrocardiography ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo assess the image quality, diagnostic accuracy and effective radiation dose of prospectively ECG- triggered high-pitch spiral double scanning (Double Flash) mode of computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) using dual-source CT for the diagnosis of significant coronary stenoses.

METHODSPatients underwent both CTCA in Double Flash mode and conventional coronary angiography (CAG) and were divided into two groups according to heart rate (HR), namely group A with HR <65/min (62 cases) and group B with HR between 65 and 80/min (52 cases). All the coronary segments were evaluated by two blinded and independent observers for image quality on a four-point scale and for the presence of significant coronary stenoses (defined as a diameter narrowing exceeding 50%). CAG served as the reference standard for analyzing the diagnostic accuracy of Double Flash mode images on the level of both patients and vessels. Radiation dose values were calculated using the dose-length product.

RESULTSA total of 114 patients were enrolled and 1725 vessel segments were displayed. In terms of image quality, the diagnosable segments accounted for 98.5% (919/933) in group A and 97.3% (770/792) in group B. In the per-patient analysis, the diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy were 100%, 90.5%, 88.2%, 100% and 96.7% in group A and were 100%, 88.5%, 94.5%, 100% and 96.2% in group B, respectively. The mean effective radiation dose was 1.63∓0.52 mSv.

CONCLUSIONDouble Flash spiral protocol of dual-source CTCA can acquire good image quality and yield high diagnostic accuracy for assessment of coronary artery stenoses at a low radiation dose in patients with HR between 65 and 80/min.

Aged ; Cardiac-Gated Imaging Techniques ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Stenosis ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Coronary Vessels ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiation Dosage ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tomography, Spiral Computed

This study was aimed to analyze the value of the SPECT MPI to myocardial ischemia and cardiac function parameters in the CAD prognosis assessment. A total of 890 patients with suspected CAD underwent adenosine loading stress gated SPECT. At a mean follow-up of (2.3 +/- 0. 4) year, a total of 37 adverse events occurred, including 12 cardiac deaths and 25 nonfatal myocardial infarctions. Univariate Cox analysis showed that diabetes (wald 6.95, P < 0.01), SSS (wald 24.31, P < 0.001), EF (wald 17.14, P < 0.001), ESV (wald 8.58, P < 0.01) and EDV (wald 7.95, P < 0.01) were significant predictors of MACEs. Multivariate Cox analysis showed that SSS (wald 6.69, P < 0.05) and EF (wald 4.70, P < 0.05) were independent predictors. According to the results, SSS and EF are both independent predictors of MACEs.
Adenosine ; Aged ; Cardiac-Gated Single-Photon Emission Computer-Assisted Tomography ; methods ; Coronary Disease ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon ; methods ; Ventricular Function, Left ; physiology

OBJECTIVE: To assess the performance of a high-definition CT (HDCT) for imaging small caliber coronary stents (< or = 3 mm) by comparing different scan modes of a conventional 64-row standard-definition CT (SDCT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cardiac phantom with twelve stents (2.5 mm and 3.0 mm in diameter) was scanned by HDCT and SDCT. The scan modes were retrospective electrocardiography (ECG)-gated helical and prospective ECG-triggered axial with tube voltages of 120 kVp and 100 kVp, respectively. The inner stent diameters (ISD) and the in-stent attenuation value (AVin-stent) and the in-vessel extra-stent attenuation value (AVin-vessel) were measured by two observers. The artificial lumen narrowing (ALN = [ISD - ISDmeasured]/ISD) and artificial attenuation increase between in-stent and in-vessel (AAI = AVin-stent - AVin-vessel) were calculated. All data was analyzed by intraclass correlation and ANOVA-test. RESULTS: The correlation coefficient of ISD, AVin-vessel and AVin-stent between the two observers was good. The ALNs of HDCT were statistically lower than that of SDCT (30 +/- 5.7% versus 35 +/- 5.4%, p < 0.05). HDCT had statistically lower AAI values than SDCT (15.7 +/- 81.4 HU versus 71.4 +/- 90.5 HU, p < 0.05). The prospective axial dataset demonstrated smaller ALN than the retrospective helical dataset on both HDCT and SDCT (p < 0.05). Additionally, there were no differences in ALN between the 120 kVp and 100 kVp tube voltages on HDCT (p = 0.05). CONCLUSION: High-definition CT helps improve measurement accuracy for imaging coronary stents compared to SDCT. HDCT with 100 kVp and the prospective ECG-triggered axial technique, with a lower radiation dose than 120 kVp application, may be advantageous in evaluating coronary stents with smaller calibers (< or = 3 mm).
Analysis of Variance ; Cardiac-Gated Imaging Techniques/methods ; Coronary Disease/*radiography/*therapy ; Humans ; Phantoms, Imaging ; Radiation Dosage ; Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted ; *Stents ; Tomography, Spiral Computed/*methods