Imaging (CT & MRI)      Archive 2000-2001

Links

TCT 2002 Expert Presentations

Feasibility of MRA with an MR Transparent Stent T. Sos  
Tc-99m-Sestamibi Perfusion Imaging and Contrast-Enhanced MRI R. O. Bonow  

Summaries of important articles from major peer-reviewed journals

Contrast-Enhanced MRA and Conventional Pulmonary Angiography for the Diagnosis of Pulmonary Embolism M. Oudkerk   Lancet 2002; 359: 1643-47  

MRI as a prognostic tool for cardiac disease
Hundley WG et al. 
Circulation 2002; published online before print, October 14, 2002. 
with slides / Risk of future MI and cardiac death can be predicted from MRI scans, offering a potential new noninvasive assessment method in patients with poor echocardiograms. 

Magnetic resonance angiography can assess severity of vein graft stenosis with "fair" diagnostic accuracy
Langerak SE et al. 
Circulation 2002; 105: 328-33. [ Jan 24, 2002 ]
with slide / Magnetic resonance angiography can be used not only to detect the presence or absence of graft patency following CABG, but also to determine the extent of stenosis in the vessel, researchers say. The test may one day provide a noninvasive tool for determining whether a patient with angina post-CABG does indeed have something to worry about. 

Subendocardial ischemia detected in patients with cardiac syndrome X
Panting JR et al, Panza JA. 
N Engl J Med 2002;346:1948-1953, 1934-1935. [ Jun 19, 2002 ]
MRI studies show decreased subendocardial, but normal transmural, perfusion during stress with adenosine, leading researchers to conclude that an unusual, localized ischemia may be at the heart of angina associated with the mysterious cardiac syndrome X. But an editorialist remains unconvinced ischemia is the key. 

Full text journal article May 2002
Will Coronary Magnetic Resonance Angiography Eliminate the Need for Coronary Arteriography?
J. Willis Hurst, MD

Full text journal article May 2002
Three-Dimensional Coronary Anatomy in Contrast-Enhanced Multislice Computed Tomography (MSCT)
Authors provide an overview of the cardiac and coronary morphology as it is imaged with contrast-enhanced MSCT.

Full text journal article Jun 2002
Cardiac MRI: Practical Protocols and Cases
Learn about the practical considerations of patient set-up, MRI planes, and basic MR sequences for cardiac MRI.

Full text journal article May 2002
Beyond Traditional Risk Factor Analysis for Coronary Artery Disease: The Case for Coronary Artery Calcium Assessment With Electron Beam Computed Tomography
EBCT detects coronary calcium and offers a complimentary way to..

Full text journal article May 2002
Coronary Calcium Scanning Adds Incremental Value to Patients With Positive Stress Tests
Absence of coronary calcification by electron beam tomography reliably identified false-positive treadmill stress tests.

Full text journal article May 2002
A Review of Electron Beam Computed Tomography: Implications for Coronary Artery Disease Screening
Widespread use of EBCT isn't recommended pending data to establish its efficacy in risk factor reduction and prevention.

Full text journal article Feb 2002
Coronary Artery Calcifications in Women: CT Scoring
CT scoring has the potential to identify women who may benefit from earlier preventive measures for CAD.

Full text journal article Jun 2002
Silent Single Coronary Artery Anamoly Depicted by Magnetic Resonance Angiography
Read a case study demonstrating how an MRI provides a precise description of coronary anomalies and can aid in surgical planning

News
New CT Imaging Method Allows Noninvasive Coronary Artery Assessment
High-resolution multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT) permits accurate, noninvasive detection of coronary artery stenoses, according to a report in the November issue of the European Heart Journal.

Coronary Artery Patency After Metallic Stent Implantation Evaluated by Multislice Computed Tomography    
Nobusada Funabashi et al
Circulation 2003;107 147-148
http://circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/full/107/1/147?etoc
Four months after the stent placement, ECG-gated enhanced multislice computed tomography (CT) (Light Speed Ultra, General Electric) was performed with a 1.25-mm slice thickness, helical pitch 3.25, to evaluate the coronary artery lumen for restenosis at the stent implantation sites. After intravenous injection of 100 mL of iodinated contrast material (350 mgI/mL), CT scanning was performed with retrospective ECG-gated reconstruction. After acquisition, volume data were extracted from end-diastole, and volume-rendering images were generated (M900 Zio). In the axial source image and cut-plane volume rendering image, the patency of the coronary arterial lumen of the proximal portion of the LAD surrounded by the metallic stent  was observed without any artifact from the metallic stent. The next day, conventional coronary angiography showed no significant luminal stenosis of the proximal and distal portions of the LAD.

Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrates improved regional systolic wall motion and thickening and myocardial perfusion of myocardial territories treated by laser myocardial revascularization
Laham RJ, et al.
J Am Coll Cardiol 2002;39:1-8
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt=Citation&list_uids=11755279 
This small phase I, open-label, uncontrolled study of MR functional and perfusion imaging in patients undergoing Biosense-guided LMR suggests a beneficial effect of this treatment strategy on myocardial function and perfusion. The efficacy of Biosense-guided LMR is being evaluated in a large phase II, randomized, blinded placebo-controlled trial with an MRI substudy (DIRECT).