Keywords:
Tissue characterisation, Arteriosclerosis, Normal variants, CT-Quantitative, CT-Angiography, Cardiovascular system, Cardiac
Authors:
R. Ma, D. Ties, G. J. Pelgrim, R. van Dijk, M. van Assen, G. Sidorenkov, P. van der Harst, R. Vliegenthart; Groningen/NL
Purpose
Background:
Peri-coronary adipose tissue mean attenuation (PCATMA) is a new potential coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) biomarker for coronary inflammation. Inflammation plays an important role in the plaque development of the coronary artery. The relationship between peri-coronary adipose tissue mean attenuation(PCATMA) and coronary inflammation has been previously confirmed by pathology and CCTA methods in translational research [1]. Several studies revealed the relationship between coronary artery disease and PCATMA and the usability of PCATMA for the prediction of cardiovascular risk [2-5] based on CCTA obtained at 100-120 kV. In order to reduce the radiation dose of CCTA, scans are more and more commonly acquired at lower kV levels (MA is unknown. Besides that, most studies focus on PCATMA measurements in a single coronary artery and information about the reference value of PCATMA in all three main coronary vessels (LAD,LCX and RCA) is missing.
Purpose:
The purpose of our study is to compare the PCATMA values of the three main coronary arteries measured on CCTA acquisitions as well as the effect of different kV levels on PCATMA values in patients without coronary plaque.