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Published in: European Radiology 11/2012

01-11-2012 | Vascular-Interventional

Prospective ECG-gated 320-row CT angiography of the whole aorta and coronary arteries

Authors: Yu Li, Zhanming Fan, Lei Xu, Lin Yang, Haiyan Xin, Nan Zhang, Zhaoqi Zhang

Published in: European Radiology | Issue 11/2012

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Abstract

Objectives

To investigate the feasibility of using a prospective ECG-gated wide-volume protocol in CT angiography (CTA) of the whole aorta and coronary arteries (CA).

Methods

A total of 61 consecutive patients with suspected acute aortic diseases underwent CTA of the whole aorta using a prospective ECG-gated wide-volume CT protocol without heart rate (HR) control. The exposure window was set at 40–50 % of R–R interval (HR ≥70 bpm) or 70–80 % of R–R interval (HR <70 bpm) in a single heartbeat. The image quality of the ascending aorta, aortic valve and CA was evaluated for motion artefacts. The mean attenuation was measured at different levels of the aorta. The radiation dose and contrast medium volume were recorded.

Results

All of the examinations were performed successfully. The image quality was acceptable in the ascending aorta, aortic valve (100 %) and CA (94.4 %). The mean radiation dose was 18.42 ± 5.02 mSv. Of 61 patients, 14 were diagnosed with aortic aneurysm and 35 were diagnosed with aortic dissection or intramural haematoma. Coronary artery stenosis was detected in 12 patients.

Conclusion

For patients with aortic diseases, CTA of the whole aorta using a prospective ECG-gated wide-volume protocol has the potential to provide additional information about the CA and aortic valve with lower radiation exposure.

Key Points

Computed tomography is increasingly used to assess the coronary arteries and the aorta.
This novel study investigates prospective ECG-gated wide-volume 320-row CT angiography.
Heart rate variation did not influence the image quality of coronary arteries.
Abnormalities in the coronary arteries and aorta can be simultaneously assessed noninvasively.
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Metadata
Title
Prospective ECG-gated 320-row CT angiography of the whole aorta and coronary arteries
Authors
Yu Li
Zhanming Fan
Lei Xu
Lin Yang
Haiyan Xin
Nan Zhang
Zhaoqi Zhang
Publication date
01-11-2012
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
European Radiology / Issue 11/2012
Print ISSN: 0938-7994
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1084
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-012-2497-z

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