Computed tomography angiography reconstructed with MBIR for TAVR planning as a comprehensive tool for the assessment of coronary arteries
Author Block: C. R. G. L. O. M. Talei Franzesi, C. Maino, D. G. Gandola, M. Ragusi, T. P. Giandola, P. N. Franco, R. Corso, D. Ippolito; Milan/IT
Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of a model-based iterative algorithm (MBIR) in the assessment of coronary arteries in an angiographic-CT (CTA) study during TAVR planning.
Methods or Background: A total of 82 patients who underwent CTA for TAVR planning were included in this study. All exams were obtained using a 256-slice MDCT scanner with low-dose and low-contrast media volume CTA protocol (80 kV, 50 mL) with ECG-gated technique and reconstructed with MBIR algorithm. All coronary arteries were divided into 3 segments and evaluated in terms of image quality and contrast enhancement. Mean attenuation values (HU) of coronary arteries and thoracic aorta were calculated by drawing a manual region of interest (ROI) in the lumen of vessels.
Results or Findings: The mean attenuation value in the thoracic aorta was 478 HU and in the abdominal aorta was 447 HU. The proximal segment of the left anterior descending artery was identified and analysed in all (100%) cases, while the medium segment was identified in 89% and the distal tract only in 65%.
The proximal segment of the left circumflex artery was recognisable in 89%, the medium segment in 70%, and only in 29% it was possible to assess the distal segment. In 95% of CT scans, we were able to evaluate the proximal segment of the right coronary artery, in 79% of the medium and 52% of the distal segment.
Conclusion: Low-dose and low-contrast media volume CTA performed for TAVR planning offers important insight information on coronary status when combined with the IMR reconstruction algorithm.
Limitations: This was a retrospective and a single-centre study.
Funding for this study: No funding was received for this study.
Has your study been approved by an ethics committee? Not applicable
Ethics committee - additional information: This was a retrospective study.