ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The Italian Registry of Contrast Material use in Cardiac Computed Tomography (iRCM-CCT) is a multicenter, multivendor, observational study on the use of contrast media (CM) in patients undergoing cardiac computed tomography (CCT). The aim of iRCM-CCT is to assess image quality and safety profile of intravenous CM compounds. MATERIALS AND METHODS: iRCM-CCT enrolled 1842 consecutive patients undergoing CCT (≥50 per site) at 20 cluster sites with the indication of suspected coronary artery disease. Demographic characteristics, CCT, and CM protocols, clinical indications, safety markers, radiation dose reports, qualitative (ie, poor vascular enhancement) and quantitative (ie, HU attenuation values) image parameters were recorded. A centralized coordinating center collected and assessed all image parameters. RESULTS: The cohort included 891 men and 951 women (age: 63±14 y, body mass index: 26±4 kg/m2) studied with ≥64 detector rows computed tomography scanners and different iodinated intravenous CM protocols and compounds (iodixanol, iopamidol, iohexol, iobitridol, iopromide, and iomeprol). The following vascular attenuation was reported: 504±147 HU in the aorta, 451±146 HU in the right coronary artery, 474±146 HU in the left main, 451±146 HU in the left anterior descending artery, and 441±149 HU in the circumflex artery. In 4% of cases the image quality was not satisfactory due to poor enhancement. The following adverse reactions to CM were recorded: 6 (0.3%) extravasations and 17 (0.9%) reactions (11 mild, 4 moderate, 2 severe). CONCLUSIONS: In a multicenter registry on CM use during CCT the prevalence of CM-related adverse reactions was very low. The appropriate use of CM is a major determinant of image quality.
Subject(s)
Contrast Media , Coronary Artery Disease , Male , Humans , Female , Middle Aged , Aged , Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methods , Coronary Angiography/methods , RegistriesABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of a new-generation spiral multidetector computed tomographic scanner (the Brilliance 64) in the diagnosis of coronary in-stent restenosis (ISR). Forty-one patients with 87 coronary stents (70 drug-eluting stents) implanted were examined. Patients underwent multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) 6.7 +/- 6.9 days before scheduled invasive coronary angiography, using intravenous contrast enhancement. Images were reconstructed in multiple formats using retrospective electrocardiographic gating. Stents were viewed in their long and short axes and were visually classified for the presence or absence of binary ISR (diameter reduction >50%), including the 5-mm borders proximal and distal to the stent. ISR was found by invasive coronary angiography in 13 of the stented segments (15%) and in 8 patients (19%). Of these, 11 cases of ISR were correctly detected by MDCT; additionally, 1 severely calcified stented segment was considered as occluded by MDCT (sensitivity 84%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 54% to 98%). Seventy-three of 74 stented segments without ISR were correctly classified by MDCT (specificity 97%, 95% CI 93% to 100%), whereas 2 stented segments were classified as false-negative ISR. The positive predictive value was 92% (95% CI 84% to 97%), the negative predictive value was 97% (95% CI 90% to 99%), and predictive accuracy was 96% (95% CI 90% to 99%). After the exclusion of the calcified stented segment, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and predictive accuracy were 84% (95% CI 74% to 91%), 100% (95% CI 96% to 100%), 100% (95% CI 96% to 100%), 97% (CI 90% to 99%), and 98% (95% CI 92% to 99%), respectively. In conclusion, even with improved scanner technology, the sensitivity for the detection of ISR was moderate (84%). Thus, further studies are needed to determine whether MDCT will be a clinically useful and cost-effective tool for the evaluation of ISR in the clinical arena.
