OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to validate the accuracy of 64-MDCT densitometry of soft and intermediate plaques. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene resin (47 H) and acrylic (110 H) were used to simulate soft and intermediate plaques, respectively, in coronary artery models (diameters of 3 and 4 mm). The variable parameters were heart rate (50, 65, 80, and 95 beats per minute), reconstruction algorithm (half and segmentation), coronary artery enhancement (150, 250, 350, and 450 H), CT densitometry site (arterial lumen or center), shape of plaque (D-shaped, centric, and eccentric), and level of stenosis due to plaque (25%, 50%, and 75% of arterial diameter). Measured CT attenuation values of soft and intermediate plaques were compared for different combinations of parameters. Repeated measures analysis of variance, Wilcoxon's signed rank, Mann-Whitney U, and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used for statistical analyses. RESULTS: For measuring soft plaque, CT densitometry was accurate at low heart rates with the use of a half reconstruction algorithm (p < 0.01) on intracoronary artery enhancement of 250 H (p < 0.01). For both soft and intermediate plaques, the densitometry measurements near the arterial lumen were overestimated and higher than those at the center (p < 0.01). For plaques that were 50% or more of the arterial diameter, accurate CT densitometry was possible. CONCLUSION: Coronary artery enhancement has a significant impact on 64-MDCT densitometry measurements of coronary artery plaques, especially of soft plaques. A large plaque size, densitometry performed not near the arterial lumen but at the center of the plaque, intracoronary enhancement of 250 H, and a low heart rate increase the accuracy of plaque densitometry.
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to validate the accuracy of 64-MDCT densitometry of soft and intermediate plaques. MATERIALS AND METHODS:Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene resin (47 H) and acrylic (110 H) were used to simulate soft and intermediate plaques, respectively, in coronary artery models (diameters of 3 and 4 mm). The variable parameters were heart rate (50, 65, 80, and 95 beats per minute), reconstruction algorithm (half and segmentation), coronary artery enhancement (150, 250, 350, and 450 H), CT densitometry site (arterial lumen or center), shape of plaque (D-shaped, centric, and eccentric), and level of stenosis due to plaque (25%, 50%, and 75% of arterial diameter). Measured CT attenuation values of soft and intermediate plaques were compared for different combinations of parameters. Repeated measures analysis of variance, Wilcoxon's signed rank, Mann-Whitney U, and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used for statistical analyses. RESULTS: For measuring soft plaque, CT densitometry was accurate at low heart rates with the use of a half reconstruction algorithm (p < 0.01) on intracoronary artery enhancement of 250 H (p < 0.01). For both soft and intermediate plaques, the densitometry measurements near the arterial lumen were overestimated and higher than those at the center (p < 0.01). For plaques that were 50% or more of the arterial diameter, accurate CT densitometry was possible. CONCLUSION: Coronary artery enhancement has a significant impact on 64-MDCT densitometry measurements of coronary artery plaques, especially of soft plaques. A large plaque size, densitometry performed not near the arterial lumen but at the center of the plaque, intracoronary enhancement of 250 H, and a low heart rate increase the accuracy of plaque densitometry.
Authors: Dipanjan Pan; Ewald Roessl; Jens-Peter Schlomka; Shelton D Caruthers; Angana Senpan; Mike J Scott; John S Allen; Huiying Zhang; Grace Hu; Patrick J Gaffney; Eric T Choi; Volker Rasche; Samuel A Wickline; Roland Proksa; Gregory M Lanza Journal: Angew Chem Int Ed Engl Date: 2010-12-10 Impact factor: 15.336
Authors: Wisnumurti Kristanto; Volkan Tuncay; Rozemarijn Vliegenthart; Peter M A van Ooijen; Matthijs Oudkerk Journal: Int J Cardiovasc Imaging Date: 2014-10-18 Impact factor: 2.357
Authors: L La Grutta; M Galia; G Gentile; G Lo Re; E Grassedonio; F Coppolino; E Maffei; E Maresi; A Lo Casto; F Cademartiri; M Midiri Journal: Br J Radiol Date: 2013-01 Impact factor: 3.039
Authors: Wisnumurti Kristanto; Peter M A van Ooijen; Marcel J W Greuter; Jaap M Groen; Rozemarijn Vliegenthart; Matthijs Oudkerk Journal: Int J Cardiovasc Imaging Date: 2013-01-17 Impact factor: 2.357
Authors: Dipanjan Pan; Carsten O Schirra; Angana Senpan; Anne H Schmieder; Allen J Stacy; Ewald Roessl; Axel Thran; Samuel A Wickline; Roland Proska; Gregory M Lanza Journal: ACS Nano Date: 2012-03-08 Impact factor: 15.881
Authors: Dipanjan Pan; Todd A Williams; Angana Senpan; John S Allen; Mike J Scott; Patrick J Gaffney; Samuel A Wickline; Gregory M Lanza Journal: J Am Chem Soc Date: 2009-10-28 Impact factor: 15.419