Keywords:
Congenital, Statistics, Contrast agent-intravenous, Computer Applications-3D, CT-Angiography, CT, CAD, Cardiovascular system, Cardiac, Anatomy
Authors:
E. Detorakis1, I. Papadopoulou2, R. Illing3; 1Iraklion/GR, 2Heraklion/GR, 3Budapest/HU
Methods and Materials
Between April 2018 and March 2019 ninety-eight patients (64 men, 34 women) with low to intermediate risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) underwent cardiac CT in our department on a 128-slice CT scanner (GE Optima CT 660). The average age of the population was 48.5 years (range 44 to 66 years) and the median 52 years, and the average body mass index was 26. A beta-blocker was administrated orally 40-90 min before the examination in those patients with a heart rate higher than 65bpm. A native scan was implemented to all patients for calcium score measurement and a second scan after intravenous injection of contrast media (Ultravist 370, Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals). A prospectively ECG-triggered protocol was implemented in 68 patients, while the remaining 30 patients, due to cardiac arrhythmias, were scanned with a retrospective ECG-triggered protocol. A commercial CT workstation software (GE Healthcare, Waukesha, WI) was used in the reconstruction of images from the raw data. Images were primarily evaluated for the presence of atherosclerotic lesions by using the coronary artery disease reporting and data system (CAD-RADS), as well as, for possible anatomical abnormalities, focusing on the presence and extent of MB. Information regarding clinical signs and symptoms were also evaluated together with image findings. Statistical analysis was also performed using Student t-test and Chi-square test. A p value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.