Tomografía computada multidetector de arterias coronarias: estado del arte. Parte II: Aplicaciones clínicas / Multidetector computed tomography of coronary arteries: state of the art. Second part: clinical applications

At the beginning of the evaluation of Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), Coronary Multidetector Computed Tomography (MDCT) was exclusively used to detect calcified plaques in coronary arteries through the Calcium Score, whose value by itself is limited. Nowadays, thanks to the technological advancements, potential clinical applications, with this method, include detection of coronary arterial stenosis, assessment of coronary bridges, and evaluation of anomalous coronaries. The intraluminal coronary stent evaluation is not possible yet, but this might become possible with the new-generation scanners. At the moment, the published results seem to be promising, nonetheless, the enthusiasm generated by this method should be accompanied by adequate training, as well as by its validation and certification.

Estudio de la función endotelial mediante tomografía por emisión de positrones en pacientes con hipercolesterolemia / Endothelial function assessment by positron emission tomography in patients with hypercholesterolemia

Hypercholesterolemia prompts to endothelial dysfunction (ED) and ED predisposes to atherogenesis. ED appears early in the course of atherogenesis and it is considered a coronary artery disease (CAD) marker. OBJECTIVES: To assess endothelial function (EF) using Positron Emission Tomography (PET) in asymptomatic patients with recent dyslipidemia diagnosis and without history of ischemic heart disease and previous hypolipemiant treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fourteen asymptomatic patients with recent dyslipidemia diagnosis (< 6 months) were studied by obtaining a lipid profile, blood glucose, and a three phase 13N-ammonia PET scan: rest, cold pressor test (CPT) and pharmacologic stress with adenosine. EF was assessed by calculating the coronary flow reserve (CFR), endothelial-dependant vasodilatation index (EDVI), and coronary blood flow increase percentage in CPT (% Delta CF). RESULTS: 79% of patients with dyslipidemia had ED and all their values were lower than those previously published as normal: rest coronary flow 0.44 +/- 0.12 vs 0.57 +/- 0.147 (p = 0.002), CPT coronary flow 0.57 +/- 0.17 vs 0.88 +/- 0.26 (p = 0.001), stress coronary flow 1.24 +/- 0.05 vs 1.81 +/- 0.35 (p = 0.005), EDVI 1.28 +/- 0.25 vs 1.53 +/- 0.24 (p 0.017), CRF 2.79 +/- 0.94 vs 3.15 +/- 0.48 (p 0.198) and % Delta CF 29.08 +/- 24.62% vs 53 +/- 24.60% (p 0.022). Conclusions: Asymptomatic patients in early stages of dyslipidemia showed a greater ED prevalence that was detected by 13N-ammonia PET scan.

Tomografía computada multidetector de arterias coronarias: estado del arte. Parte I: aspectos técnicos / Computer multidetector tomography of coronary arteries: state-of-the-art. Part 1: technical aspects

The study of atherosclerotic disease in coronary arteries is fundamental since it is the first cause of death in the Western hemisphere. The gold standard for its diagnosis is invasive angiography, but it contributes to an increase in costs for this group of patients. Nowadays fourth generation computed tomography (CT) equipments can construct acquisition data of up to 256 images in only 400 milliseconds (ms), which is 900 to 1000 times faster than first generation apparatus. CT multidetector (CTMD) is the noninvasive choice diagnosis method for a vascular evaluation of the thorax. Its role in the study of the heart was limited, but today it is possible to obtain three-dimensional heart and whole body images in only seconds. CTMD is a fast, low-cost, noninvasive method that generates cardiac and extra cardiac images without adjacent structure interference. The higher temporal resolution due to an increase of the gantry's rotation and new reconstruction algorithms, as well as its higher spatial resolution and elevated time acquisition due to the presence of more detectors, have permitted CTMD to give significantly better and precise diagnosis of coronary arteries.

Estudio de la viabilidad miocárdica: Comparación de tomografía por emisión de positrones y resonancia magnética / Study of myocardial viability: Comparison of PET and MRI

Introducción: En los últimos años se han desarrollado diversos métodos que permiten evaluar zonas de miocardio viable. Actualmente el estándar de oro para este propósito es la Tomografía por Emisión de Positrones (PET). Recientemente, con el advenimiento y expansión de la resonancia magnética cardiovascular (RMCV), se han buscado diferentes índices y marcadores de viabilidad en este método de imagen; encontrándose hasta ahora que el reforzamiento tardío es uno de los marcadores más precisos para este fin. En este trabajo se busca correlacionar los datos obtenidos en PET con aquellos que muestra la RMCV en el estudio de la viabilidad miocárdica. Método: Se estudiaron 17 pacientes con diagnóstico de infarto del miocardio, a los cuales se les practicó una determinación de viabilidad miocárdica con Fluoro-18-deoxiglucosa.(PET-FDG) y un estudio para detección de viabilidad miocárdica mediante resonancia magnética. El periodo de tiempo entre ambos estudios fue en todos los casos menor a una semana. Los resultados fueron interpretados por expertos. Se utilizó el modelo de 17 segmentos de la American Heart Association. El patrón de reforzamiento tardío observado en el estudio de resonancia magnética fue comparado con la movilidad segmentaria. Se obtuvo sensibilidad, especificidad y factores predictivos tanto positivo como negativo de la RMCV en el diagnóstico de viabilidad. Los resultados de ambas técnicas fueron comparados utilizando el programa SPSS v. 10. Resultados: Se estudiaron 289 segmentos miocárdicos, PET detectó 239 (82.7%) segmentos viables y 50 (17.3%) segmentos no viables, con RMCV se encontraron 210 (72.6%) segmentos viables y 79 (27.4%) segmentos no viables. Ambas técnicas coincidieron el 75% de las veces y al analizarlo por territorio coronario específico la correlación fue muy buena. Conclusiones: La RMCV es una técnica adecuada para la evaluación de viabilidad miocardica. Este estudio es el primero en Latinoamérica que utiliza la RMCV y el PET de forma conjunta.

Background: In the last years, few methods for the assessment of myocardial viability have been developed. Now a days the gold standard test forthis purpose is the Positron Emission Tomography (PET). Recently, the expansion of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance imaging (MRI) has promoted the research for indexes or scores than can predict myocardial viability; so far, the late enhancement has proved to be one of the most accurate scores. The purpose of this study is to establish a correlation between the information of PET with the results of MRI in the assessment of myocardial viability. Late enhancement patterns and segmental mobility were compared. Sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values were calculated. SPSS v. 10 program was used forthe statistic analysis. Methods: 17 patients with diagnosis of myocardial infarction were enrolled. All of them underwent into a myocardial viability detection PET study and into a cardiovascular magnetic resonance study using a late enhancement technique. Results were interpreted by experts. The 17 segments model of The American Heart Association was used. Results: A total of 289 myocardial segments were analyzed, by PET 239 (82%) viable segments and 50 (17.3%) of non viable segments were detected, meanwhile by MRI 210 (72.6%) and 79 (27.4%) of viable and non viable myocardial segments respectively were found. Both techniques correlate 75% of the times and when vascular territories were analyzed, a good correlation was also established. Conclusions: MRI is an adequate technique to determine viability since it has good correlation with PET. This is the first study realized in Latin America that compares PET and MRI in the diagnosis of myocardial viability.