Value of fractional flow reserve derived from coronary computed tomographic angiography and plaque quantitative analysis in predicting adverse outcomes of non-obstructive coronary heart disease / 中华危重病急救医学

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the value of coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA)-based fractional flow reserve (CT-FFR) and plaque quantitative analysis in predicting adverse outcomes in patients with non-obstructive coronary heart disease (CAD).@*METHODS@#Clinical data of patients with non-obstructive CAD who underwent CCTA at the Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University from March 2014 to March 2018 were retrospectively analyzed and followed up, and the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) was recorded. The patients were divided into MACE and non-MACE groups according to the occurrence of MACE. The clinical data, CCTA plaque characteristics including plaque length, stenosis degree, minimum lumen area, total plaque volume, non-calcified plaque volume, calcified plaque volume, plaque burden (PB) and remodelling index (RI), and CT-FFR were compared between the two groups. Multivaritate Cox proportional risk model was used to evaluate the relationship between clinical factors, CCTA parameters and MACE. The receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC curve) was used to assess the predictive power of outcome prediction model based on different CCTA parameters.@*RESULTS@#Finally 217 patients were included, of which 43 (19.8%) had MACE and 174 (80.2%) did not. The median follow-up interval was 24 (16, 30) months. The CCTA showed that patients in the MACE group had more severe stenosis than that in the non-MACE group [(44.3±3.8)% vs. (39.5±2.5)%], larger total plaque volume and non-calcified plaque volume [total plaque volume (mm3): 275.1 (197.1, 376.9), non-calcified plaque volume (mm3): 161.5 (114.5, 307.8) vs. 117.9 (77.7, 185.5)], PB and RI were larger [PB: 50.2% (42.1%, 54.8%) vs. 45.1% (38.2%, 51.7%), RI: 1.19 (0.93, 1.29) vs. 1.03 (0.90, 1.22)], CT-FFR value was lower [0.85 (0.80, 0.88) vs. 0.92 (0.87, 0.97)], and the differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). Cox regression analysis showed that non-calcified plaques volume [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.005. 95% confidence interval (95%CI) was 1.025-4.866], PB ≥ 50% (HR = 3.146, 95%CI was 1.443-6.906), RI ≥ 1.10 (HR = 2.223, 95%CI was 1.002-1.009) and CT-FFR ≤ 0.87 (HR = 2.615, 95%CI was 1.016-6.732) were independent predictors of MACE (all P < 0.05). The model based on CCTA stenosis degree+CT-FFR+quantitative plaque characteristics (including non-calcified plaque volume, RI, PB) [area under the ROC curve (AUC) = 0.91, 95%CI was 0.87-0.95] had significantly better predictive efficacy for adverse outcomes than the model based on CCTA stenosis degree (AUC = 0.63, 95%CI was 0.54-0.71) and the model based on CCTA stenosis degree+CT-FFR (AUC = 0.71, 95%CI was 0.63-0.79; both P < 0.01).@*CONCLUSIONS@#CT-FFR and plaque quantitative analysis based on CCTA are helpful in predicting adverse outcomes in patients with non-obstructive CAD. Non-calcified plaque volume, RI, PB and CT-FFR are important predictors of MACE. Compared with the prediction model based on stenosis degree and CT-FFR, the combined plaque quantitative index can significantly improve the prediction efficiency of adverse outcomes in patients with non-obstructive CAD.

The role of quantitative plaque analysis and fractional flow reserve derived from coronary CT angiography in plaque progression / 中华放射学杂志

Objective:To explore the prognostic value of quantitative plaque analysis and coronary CT angiography (CCTA) derived fractional flow reserve (CT-FFR) in evaluating plaque progression (PP).Methods:A total of 118 consecutive patients who underwent serial CCTA examinations in Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University from December 2013 to December 2017 were retrospectively enrolled. There were 37 patients in the PP group and 81 patients in the non-PP group. All patients′ CCTA images were quantitatively analyzed using plaque analysis software. The quantitative analysis parameters included stenosis degree, plaque length, total plaque volume, calcified plaque volume, non-calcified plaque volume, minimum lumen area, remodeling index(RI) and plaque burden. Plaque progression was defined as plaque burden change rate>1%. CT-FFR analysis was performed using cFFR software and the CT-FFR value was measured at 2-4 cm distal to the coronary lesion. Baseline parameters between the two groups were evaluated using Students t-test, U-test, chi-square test. The logistic regression model was conducted to evaluate the relationship between CCTA derived parameters and PP. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis with the areas under the curve (AUC) was used to determine the predictive performance of different CCTA parameters. Results:Compared with the non-PP group, the patients were older( t=2.391, P=0.018), the prevalence of hyperlipidemia was higher(χ2=4.550, P=0.033), and the proportion of statins use was lower (χ2=4.764, P=0.029) in the PP group. The PP group showed greater coronary stenosis, smaller minimum lumen area, larger plaque volume and non-calcified plaque volume, larger remodeling index and lower CT-FFR value on baseline CCTA (all P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that RI(OR=2.714, 95%CI:1.078-6.836)and CT-FFR (OR=2.940, 95%CI:1.215-7.116) were independent predictors of PP. The model based on CCTA stenosis degree, quantitative plaque features and CT-FFR (AUC 0.83, 95%CI: 0.75-0.90; P<0.001) was significantly better than the model based on CCTA stenosis degree (AUC 0.62, 95%CI: 0.52-0.70, P=0.049) and the model based on CCTA stenosis degree and quantitative plaque characteristics (AUC 0.77, 95%CI: 0.68-0.84, P<0.001). Conclusions:Compared with the prediction model derived on stenosis degree, plaque quantitative markers and CT-FFR can improve the prediction value of PP.RI and CT-FFR were important predictors of PP.

Initial application of prospective electrocardiography-triggering high-pitch spiral acquisition by dualsource CT in children with congenital heart diseases / 中华放射学杂志

Objective To explore the clinical value of prospective electrocardiography-triggering high-pitch spiral acquisition by dual-source CT (HP mode ) in children with congenital heart diseases (CHD).MethodsThirty-six patients ( mean age:0.67 years,range:1 month to 2 years and 6 months; 25 males;mean weight:7.7 kg)underwent prospective ECG-triggering high-pitch spiral acquisition.The dose length product (DLP) was recorded to calculate effective dose ( ED ).Two experienced radiologists made diagnosis and assessed the overall image quality by a five-point scale independently.The consistency of their judgment was determined by Kappa statistics.Surgeries were performed in 29 patients,and conventional cardiac angiography(CCA) was performed in 7 patients.The accuracy,sensitivity and specificity of HP mode were calculated based on the surgical or CCA findings.ResultsThe DLP was (5.12 ± 1.64) mGy.cm with a range of 2.4 mGy · cm to 9.2 mGy · cm and ED was (0.125 ± 0.027 ) mSv ranging from 0.078 mSv to 0.179 mSv.The average subjective image quality score was 4.2 ± 0.7.All images were diagnosable.Two radiologists made good agreement ( K =0.774,P ＜ 0.05 ).The accuracy,sensitivity and specificity of HP mode were 98.9％,94.2％ and 99.8％,respectively.ConclusionLow radiation dose with the accurate diagnosis of anomalies makes HP mode a new choice for children with CHD.

The application of prospective echocardiography-gated dual-source CT in children with aortic coarctation / 中华放射学杂志

ObjectiveTo investigate the value of prospective ECG-gated dual-source CT (DSCT)in the diagnosis of coarctation of aorta ( CoA ).MethodsSixteen patients clinically suspected of CoA underwent prospective ECG-gated DSCT angiography and color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI). The diagnostic accuracy of DSCT and CDFI were compared according to the results of operation or DSA.The nonparametric chi-square test was used for the statistics.ResultsSixteen patients were diagnosed as CoA by DSCT,4 were complicated with artial septal defect (ASD),9 with ventricular septal defect (VSD),1 with transposition of the great arteries,3 with dysplasia of aortic arch,7 with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA),1 with abnormal origin of the coronary artery, 1 with bronchus artery dilation. Fifteen patients were diagnosed as CoA by CDFI,1 was diagnosed as interruption of aortic arch. Four were complicated with ASD,9 with VSD,2 with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV),1 with transposition of the great arteries,2 with dysplasia of aortic arch,7 with PDA,1 with bronchus artery dilation.Abnormal origin of the coronary artery was not found.The diagnostic accuracy of DSCT and CDFI were 97.2％ ( 140/144)and 97.9％ (141/144)respectively,there was no significant difference (x2 =0.00,P ＞ 0.05 ).The sensitivity of DSCT and CDFI were both 93.2％ ( 41/44 ),the specificity were 99.0％ (99/100) and 100.0％ (100/100).The mean effective radiation dose was 0.42 mSv. Conclusion Prospective ECG-gated DSCT is a good imaging technique for the diagnosis of aortic coarctation in children.