Coronary anomalies and anatomical variants detected by coronary computed tomographic angiography in Kashmir, India

Background: Coronary Artery Anomalies (CAAs) presenting in adulthood are rare and associated with adverse cardiac events, including sudden cardiac death. Coronary artery anomaly is the second most common cause of Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD) in young athletes. Cardiac Computed Tomographic Angiography (CTA) is a readily available non-invasive imaging modality that provides high-resolution anatomical information of the coronary arteries. Multi-detector row CT is superior to conventional angiography in defining the ostial origin and proximal path of anomalous coronary branches.Methods: This was a prospective study included 186 patients who underwent coronary CTA from December 2018 to November 2019 in Government medical College, Srinagar on a 256 slice CT. The indications for coronary CTA were an equivocal, or non-diagnostic stress test, atypical chest pain, suspected anomalous coronary, as well as the evaluation of cardiac cause of syncope.Results: Ramus intermedius was the most common anatomical variant seen in 25 patients (13.4%). The prevalence of coronary anomalies in this study was 5.66% including myocarding bridging. The most common anomaly was high take off of coronary artery from sinotubular junction accounting for 1.6%.Conclusions: Coronary Computed Tomographic angiography is much superior in detecting coronary artery anomalies than invasive coronary angiography because of the absence of soft tissue information like as is needed in myocardial bridging. Proper knowledge of the anomalies and their clinical significance is highly important in planning treatment and easing hardships of cardiologists in dealing with them.

Comparison of the Diagnostic Accuracies of 1.5T and 3T Stress Myocardial Perfusion Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance for Detecting Significant Coronary Artery Disease

OBJECTIVE: To compare the diagnostic performance of cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) myocardial perfusion at 1.5- and 3-tesla (T) for detecting significant coronary artery disease (CAD), with invasive coronary angiography (ICA) as the reference method. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We prospectively enrolled 281 patients (age 62.4 ± 8.3 years, 193 men) with suspected or known CAD who had undergone 1.5T or 3T CMR and ICA. Two independent radiologists interpreted perfusion defects. With ICA as the reference standard, the diagnostic performance of 1.5T and 3T CMR for identifying significant CAD (≥ 50% diameter reduction of the left main and ≥ 70% diameter reduction of other epicardial arteries) was determined. RESULTS: No differences were observed in baseline characteristics or prevalence of CAD and old myocardial infarction (MI) using 1.5T (n = 135) or 3T (n = 146) systems. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) for detecting significant CAD were similar between the 1.5T (84%, 64%, 74%, 76%, and 0.75 per patient and 68%, 83%, 66%, 84%, and 0.76 per vessel) and 3T (80%, 71%, 71%, 80%, and 0.76 per patient and 75%, 86%, 64%, 91%, and 0.81 per vessel) systems. In patients with multi-vessel CAD without old MI, the sensitivity, specificity, and AUC with 3T were greater than those with 1.5T on a per-vessel basis (71% vs. 36%, 92% vs. 69%, and 0.82 vs. 0.53, respectively). CONCLUSION: 3T CMR has similar diagnostic performance to 1.5T CMR in detecting significant CAD, except for higher diagnostic performance in patients with multi-vessel CAD without old MI.

Valor predictivo de la tomografía multicorte para evaluar lesiones obstructivas coronarias, en el preoperatorio de cirugía cardiaca no coronaria / Predictive value of multi-sliced computed tomography to evaluate obstructive coronary vessel, in the preoperative assessment of non-coronary cardiac surgery

Introducción: En la actualidad la enfermedad coronaria obstructiva (obstrucción mayor de 50%) puede ser fácilmente evaluada por medio de la tomografía coronaria multicorte. Sin embargo, aún no se define si ésta puede reemplazar a la angiografía coronaria invasiva, en pacientes que van a cirugía cardiaca no coronaria. Objetivo: Conocer si la tomografía coronaria multicorte puede sustituir a la angiografía coronaria invasiva en la detección de enfermedad coronaria en pacientes que van a ser operados de cirugía cardiaca no coronaria; comparando entre si la sensibilidad y especificidad de ambos métodos en la detección de enfermedad coronaria. Método: Se incluyeron consecutivamente 64 pacientes con edades de 55.17 ± 12.73 años, en Clase I de las guías del Colegio Americano de Cardiología/Asociación Americana de Corazón para realizar angiografía coronaria en el preoperatorio de cirugía cardiaca no coronaria. Se excluyeron enfermos con angina de pecho, alergia al medio de contraste, creatinina sérica por arriba de 2.0 mg/dL, que tuvieran previamente cirugía cardiaca o angioplastia coronaria y arritmias supra-ventriculares. Se analizó la anatomía coronaria y se cuantificó la cantidad de calcio coronario. Resultados: La prevalencia de obstrucción coronaria mayor de 50% fue 12.5%. La tomografía coronaria multicorte mostró sensibilidad de 87.5%, especificidad de 92.8%, valor predictivo negativo de 98.1% y área bajo la curva de 0.90, para predecir obstrucción coronaria. Ningún paciente con valvulopatía reumática tuvo obstrucción coronaria mayor de 50% o score de calcio > 400 U A (RR = 0.80, IC 95% 0.69-0.94). La estenosis valvular aórtica degenerativa tuvo mayor probabilidad de obstrucción coronaria mayor de 50% (RR = 9.0: IC 95% 1.64-49.8). Con análisis multivariado usando regresión logística, el score de calcio mayor de 400 UA (Coef ß 0.342, t = 4.297, p = 0.000) y sexo masculino (Coef ß 0.174, t = 2.214, p = 0.031), fueron las variables predictoras de más peso. Este estudio muestra poblaciones diferentes en el grupo de pacientes que van a cirugía cardiaca no coronaria. Conclusiones: El género masculino, el calcio coronario mayor de 400 UA y el tipo de enfermedad cardiaca previa a la cirugía cardiaca no coronaria pueden ser variables útiles para realizar la selección de pacientes que pueden evaluarse con tomografía coronaria multicorte o con angiografía coronaria invasiva. La angiografía coronaria invasiva puede indicarse necesariamente en algunos pacientes que van a cirugía cardiaca no coronaria, pero no es absolutamente necesaria en todos los enfermos como hasta hoy se recomienda en las guías del Colegio Americano de Cardiología y la Asociación Americana de Corazón.

Introduction: Significant Coronary Artery Disease (CAD>50%) it can easily detected with Multislice Computed Tomography (MSCT), nevertheless if MSCT may replace Invasive Coronary Angiography (ICA) in the preoperative assessment of the patient undergoing to non-coronary cardiac surgery is not well defined. The objective of this study was to know if the MSCT can replace ICA in the preoperative valuation of patients who go to cardiac surgery Method: 64 consecutive patients in Class I recommendation of American College of Cardiology / American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) guidelines for preoperative ICA were evaluated. Patients with angina, contrast medium allergy, serum creatinine up to 2.0 mg/dL, previous coronary cardiac surgery or coronary angioplasty and supraventricular arrhythmias were excluded. Both, Coronary artery calcium (CAC) and coronary angiography were evaluated. Results: The prevalence of significant (>50%) CAD was 12.5%. The Sensitivity of MSCT to detect significant CAD was 87.5%, its Specificity of 92.8%, Predictive Negative Value was 98.1% and Area Under the Curve (ROC analysis) = 0.90. Anyone with Rheumatic Valvular Disease had significant CAD or CAC>400 UA (RR = 0.80, IC95% 0.69-0.94). Degenerative Aortic Valve Stenosis had a major probability of significant CAD (RR of 9.0; IC 95% 1.64-49.80). Logistic Regression Analysis showed than CAC>400 UA (Coef ß 0,351, t = 4.402 p = 0.000) and male gender (Coef ß 0,179, t = 2.445, p = 0.017), were the best predicting variables of CAD. This study shows different populations in patients undergoing to non-coronary cardiac surgery. Conclusions: Gender, CAC> 400 UA and type of cardiac disease previously surgery may be useful for triage to MSCT or ICA in the preoperative assessment. This study shows that ICA may be necessarily indicated in some patients in assessment of non-coronary cardiac surgery but not absolutely indicated in all patients that Guidelines of ACC/AHA have recommended.

Precisión de la tomografía de 64 cortes en el diagnóstico de reestenosis de stent coronario / Accuracy of the 64 multislice computed tomography in the diagnosis of coronary stent restenosis

Objetivo: Determinar la precisión de la coronariografía por tomografía de 64 cortes para la detección de la reestenosis de los stents. Método: Se examinaron 52 pacientes portadores de 76 stents coronarios con sospecha de reestenosis. Inicialmente se les realizó coronariografía mediante tomógrafo de 64 cortes y posteriormente coronariografía invasiva como patrón de referencia. Se calcularon los índices de eficiencia diagnóstica. Resultados: En los stents valorables de 3 mm o más de diámetro, la sensibilidad, especificidad, valor predictivo positivo y negativo de la tomografía fueron de 95, 98, 95 y 98% respectivamente, con razón de verosimilitud positiva de 42 (IC95%, 6 a 290) y negativa de 0.05 (IC95%, 0.01 a 0.35), validez de 97% y Kappa de 0.93 (IC95%, 0.83 a 1), (p ≤ 0.00001). En los stents valorables menores que 3 mm, disminuyeron apreciablemente los índices de eficiencia diagnóstica y de Kappa, perdiendo la significancia estadística (p > 0.05). Conclusión: La coronariografía por tomografía de 64 cortes es una técnica clínica no invasiva precisa, en la detección de la reestenosis de los stents, sobre todo en los stents de 3 mm o más, y segura, ya que permite identificar a los pacientes que necesitan o no la realización de una coronariografía invasiva de control.

Objective: To determine the accuracy of coronary angiography through 64-slice computed tomography in detecting in-stent restenosis. Method: Fifty-two patients with 76 coronary stents and suspicion of restenosis were examined. Initially, they underwent coronary angiography through 64-slice computed tomography, and subsequently invasive coronary angiography as gold standard. Diagnostic efficiency indexes were calculated. Results: In the stents of 3 mm or more of diameter, tomography sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value were 95, 98, 95 and 98% respectively, with positive likelihood ratio of 42 (CI95%, 6 to 290) and negative of 0.05 (CI95%, .01 to .35), validity of 97% and Kappa of 0.93 (CI95%, .83 to 1), (p ≤ 0.00001). In the stents smaller than 3 mm, the indexes of diagnostic efficiency and Kappa considerably decreased, loosing the statistical significance (p >0.05). Conclusions: Coronary angiography through 64-slice computed tomography is an accurate, non-invasive clinical technique for the detection of in-stent restenosis, especially with stents of 3 mm or more of diameter, and reliable allows identification of patients who need to undergo or not control invasive coronary angiography.

Volumen de placas coronarias calcificadas por tomografía computarizada y presencia de estenosis significativa por angiografía coronaria / Volume of coronary calcified plaques by computed tomography and presence of significant stenosis by coronary angiography

Introducción: La presencia de calcio en las arterias coronarias es prácticamente patognomónica de aterosclerosis. En 1990, Agatston diseñó un método para cuantificar el puntaje de calcio coronario a través de la tomografía computarizada. Nuestro objetivo fue determinar la asociación entre el volumen de las placas calcificadas en las arterias coronarias determinado por tomografía de 64 cortes y la presencia de estenosis coronaria significativa diagnosticada por coronariografía invasiva. Método: Se estudiaron consecutivamente 150 pacientes, 66.6% varones, programados para coronariografía invasiva. Previo a este procedimiento, se les cuantificó el puntaje de calcio por arteria y por paciente a través de la tomografía. Se incluyeron 128 placas calcificadas, a las que se les determinó el volumen a través del método de Callister introducido en el año 1998. Las placas se consideraron pequeñas si el volumen era ≤ 10 mm³ y grandes si >10 mm³. Resultados: Se asociaron a estenosis coronaria significativa 79% de las placas con volumen mayor a 10 mm³, contra 17% con volumen pequeño (p < 0.0001). Más de 75% de las placas con volumen mayores de 10 mm³ en las arterias circunfleja, descendente anterior y coronaria derecha, se asociaron a estenosis coronaria significativa en el segmento de la placa (p < 0.0001). Correlación de Spearman 0.8. La sensibilidad y especificidad diagnóstica de estenosis coronaria significativa fueron 98.7% y 71.7 % respectivamente para un valor de corte 6.5 mm³ con un área bajo la curva de 0.88 ± 0.32 (IC 95%, 0.815 a 0.940). Conclusiones: Se observó asociación entre el volumen de las placas calcificadas circunscritas en las arterias coronarias diagnosticada por tomografía computada y la presencia de estenosis coronaria significativa diagnosticada por coronariografía invasiva.

Background: Coronary artery calcium is almost patognomonic of atherosclerosis. In 1990, Agatston designed a method to measure the coronary calcium score by computed tomography. Our aim was to establish the association between coronary calcified plaque volumes calculated by 64 slice computed tomography and the presence of significant coronary stenosis diagnosed by invasive coronary angiography. Method: 150 consecutive patients, 66.6% male, scheduled for invasive coronary angiography were studied. Coronary calcium score was measured per patient and per artery by computed tomography previous to invasive coronary angiography. 128 calcified plaques were enrrolled and volume was determined by Callister method introduced in 1998. According to the volume, the plaques were classified in two groups: small if volume ≤ 10 mm³ and big if > 10 mm³. Results: In 79% of plaques with a volume > 10 mm³, significant coronary stenosis was detected by invasive coronary angiography versus 17% with small volume (p < 0.0001). More than 75% of plaques with volume > 10 mm³ in circumflex artery, anterior descending artery and right coronary artery were associated with significant coronary stenosis (p < 0.0001). Spearman correlation was 0.8. The sensitivity and specificity of significant coronary stenosis were 98.7% and 71.7% respectively for a cut off value of 6,5 mm³, area under the curve of 0,88 ± 0,32 (CI 95%, 0.815 to 0.940). Conclusions: Association between coronary calcified plaque volume diagnosed by computed tomography and the presence of significant coronary stenosis diagnosed by invasive coronary angiography was observed.