Keywords:
Calcifications / Calculi, Artifacts, Technology assessment, Efficacy studies, CT, Cardiovascular system, Cardiac
Authors:
N. G. Eijsvoogel1, B. Hendriks1, S. Altintas2, M. Kok1, B. L. Kietselaer1, J. E. Wildberger1, M. Das1; 1Maastricht/NL, 2Maastricht /NL
Purpose
Computed Tomography (CT) of the thorax is a commonly used imaging modality to evaluate multiple different pulmonary pathologies.
Contrast enhanced (CE) and non-enhanced (NE) CT scanning protocols are used for different thoracic indications,
e.g.
staging of cancer,
interstitial lung disease,
infections,
and pulmonary embolism1-8.
Pulmonary pathologies often have an interaction with cardiovascular pathologies,
e.g.
the presence of coronary artery disease (CAD) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) increases morbidity and mortality and worsens prognosis.9 New technical developments make ultra-fast non-ECG triggered scan acquisition with a high temporal resolution possible,
which might be feasible for the evaluation of cardiac pathologies on a standard thoracic CT-scan.
To date it is still not clearly investigated what cardiac pathology could be assessed on these ultra-fast pitch thoracic CT scans.
Therefore,
the aim of the study is to evaluate the feasibility of assessing CAD,
aortic and mitral valve morphology and calcifications,
and pericardial abnormalities on a standard non-ECG gated ultra-high pitch thoracic CT-scan.