ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Screening for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a significant vascular disease found in 4% to 8% of the screening population. If ruptured, its mortality rate is between 75% and 90%, and it accounts for up to 5% of sudden deaths in the United States. Therefore, screening of AAA while asymptomatic has been a crucial portion of preventive health care worldwide. Ultrasound of the abdominal aorta is the primary imaging modality for screening of AAA recommended for asymptomatic adults regardless of their family history or smoking history. Alternatively, duplex ultrasound and CT abdomen and pelvis without contrast may be appropriate for screening. The American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria are evidence-based guidelines for specific clinical conditions that are reviewed annually by a multidisciplinary expert panel. The guideline development and revision process support the systematic analysis of the medical literature from peer reviewed journals. Established methodology principles such as Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation or GRADE are adapted to evaluate the evidence. The RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method User Manual provides the methodology to determine the appropriateness of imaging and treatment procedures for specific clinical scenarios. In those instances where peer reviewed literature is lacking or equivocal, experts may be the primary evidentiary source available to formulate a recommendation.

ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Imaging of Deep Inferior Epigastric Arteries for Surgical Planning (Breast Reconstruction Surgery): 2022 Update.

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women in the United States, with surgical options including lumpectomy and mastectomy followed by breast reconstruction. Deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap is a muscle-sparing perforator free flap breast reconstruction technique, which uses the deep inferior epigastric artery (DIEA) perforators to create a vascular pedicle. Multiple perforators are identified by preoperative imaging, which are typically ranked based on size, location, and intramuscular course. The goal of preoperative imaging is to aid the surgical team in preoperative planning given the variability of the DIEA perforator branches anatomy between patients. The objective of this document is to review the imaging modalities that can be used preoperatively to identify the optimal perforator and thereby reduce intraoperative complications, reduce postoperative complications, and improve clinical outcomes. The ACR Appropriateness Criteria are evidence-based guidelines for specific clinical conditions that are reviewed annually by a multidisciplinary expert panel. The guideline development and revision process support the systematic analysis of the medical literature from peer reviewed journals. Established methodology principles such as Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation or GRADE are adapted to evaluate the evidence. The RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method User Manual provides the methodology to determine the appropriateness of imaging and treatment procedures for specific clinical scenarios. In those instances in which peer reviewed literature is lacking or equivocal, experts may be the primary evidentiary source available to formulate a recommendation.

Multimodality imaging to distinguish between benign and malignant cardiac masses.

BACKGROUND: To compare the diagnostic accuracy of CMR and FDG-PET/CT and their complementary role to distinguish benign vs malignant cardiac masses. METHODS: Retrospectively assessed patients with cardiac mass who underwent CMR and FDG-PET/CT within a month between 2003 and 2018. RESULTS: 72 patients who had CMR and FDG-PET/CT were included. 25 patients (35%) were diagnosed with benign and 47 (65%) were diagnosed with malignant masses. 56 patients had histological correlation: 9 benign and 47 malignant masses. CMR and FDG-PET/CT had a high accuracy in differentiating benign vs malignant masses, with the presence of CMR features demonstrating a higher sensitivity (98%), while FDG uptake with SUVmax/blood pool ≥ 3.0 demonstrating a high specificity (88%). Combining multiple (> 4) CMR features and FDG uptake (SUVmax/blood pool ratio ≥ 3.0) yielded a sensitivity of 85% and specificity of 88% to diagnose malignant masses. Over a mean follow-up of 2.6 years (IQR 0.3-3.8 years), risk-adjusted mortality were highest among patients with an infiltrative border on CMR (adjusted HR 3.1; 95% CI 1.5-6.5; P = .002) or focal extracardiac FDG uptake (adjusted HR 3.8; 95% CI 1.9-7.7; P < .001). CONCLUSION: Although CMR and FDG-PET/CT can independently diagnose benign and malignant masses, the combination of these modalities provides complementary value in select cases.

ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Noncerebral Vasculitis.

Noncerebral vasculitis is a wide-range noninfectious inflammatory disorder affecting the vessels. Vasculitides have been categorized based on the vessel size, such as large-vessel vasculitis, medium-vessel vasculitis, and small-vessel vasculitis. In this document, we cover large-vessel vasculitis and medium-vessel vasculitis. Due to the challenges of vessel biopsy, imaging plays a crucial role in diagnosing this entity. While CTA and MRA can both provide anatomical details of the vessel wall, including wall thickness and enhancement in large-vessel vasculitis, FDG-PET/CT can show functional assessment based on the glycolytic activity of inflammatory cells in the inflamed vessels. Given the size of the vessel in medium-vessel vasculitis, invasive arteriography is still a choice for imaging. However, high-resolution CTA images can depict small-caliber aneurysms, and thus can be utilized in the diagnosis of medium-vessel vasculitis. The American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria are evidence-based guidelines for specific clinical conditions that are reviewed annually by a multidisciplinary expert panel. The guideline development and revision include an extensive analysis of current medical literature from peer reviewed journals and the application of well-established methodologies (RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation or GRADE) to rate the appropriateness of imaging and treatment procedures for specific clinical scenarios. In those instances where evidence is lacking or equivocal, expert opinion may supplement the available evidence to recommend imaging or treatment.

Clinically isolated aortitis: imaging features and clinical outcomes: comparison with giant cell arteritis and giant cell aortitis.

(1) describe imaging features of CIA, (2) compare dilation rate and wall thickening of aortic aneurysms in patients with CIA versus those with giant cell arteritis/aortitis (GCA), (3) present clinical outcomes of CIA patients. Retrospective search of electronic records from 2004 to 2018 yielded 71 patients, 52 of whom were female, with a mean age of 67.5 ± 9.0 years old, with a new clinical diagnosis of cranial or extracranial GCA (GCA group), and giant cell aortitis revealed by the aortic biopsy (CIA group). Comparisons between groups were conducted using the Wilcoxon rank-sum and Fisher's exact tests. Survival from the date of initial diagnosis to the end of data collection was compared between the two groups through a log-rank test. CIA patients (n = 23; 32%) presented with cardiovascular symptoms, and none had systemic inflammatory symptoms. Inflammatory markers were significantly higher among GCA patients than among CIA patients (p < 0.0001). The CIA group demonstrated thoracic aortic aneurysms without wall thickening. None of the GCA patients (n = 48; 68%) had aneurysmal dilation in the aorta at the time of diagnosis. None of the four CIA patients had FDG uptake in the aorta, while nine out of 13 GCA patients had FDG uptake in the vessels. There was no statistically significant difference in the survival between the two groups (p = 0.12). CIA patients presented with cardiovascular symptoms and was characterized by aneurysm of the aorta without the involvement of the infrarenal aortic segment. The role of FDG-PET/CT in CIA is less certain, though none of the patients in this cohort had FDG uptake in the vessels.

Intra-abdominal Deep Inferior Epigastric Vessel Course Does Not Preclude Successful DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction.

We present 2 patients in whom the course of the deep inferior epigastric vessels was intra-abdominal during deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap breast reconstruction. Preoperative computed tomography angiography gave no indication of an unusual pedicle location. In both cases, pedicle dissection was completed safely without bowel injury, and reconstruction was completed successfully. Reconstructive surgeons need not abandon DIEP flap reconstruction upon discovering that the deep inferior epigastric vessels are intra-abdominal. Unfortunately, computed tomography angiography imaging does not identify this variant preoperatively. The risk of postoperative ileus after intra-abdominal pedicle dissection may be higher than the risk after dissection of retrorectus deep inferior epigastric pedicles, and thus it is reasonable to consider the use of prophylactic mesh in these cases.

Infundibulum of the common origin of fourth lumbar arteries and median sacral artery.

We describe an infundibulum of a common origin of the fourth lumbar arteries and the median sacral artery. To the best of our knowledge there has been no such published case thus far and its natural course is unknown, in view of its novelty. Infundibular dilatations in intracranial arteries have been described to progress in size and potentially rupture. Therefore, we recommended follow-up imaging, as part of the management, to ensure stability of the infundibulum.

ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Imaging for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

Aortic stenosis is a common valvular condition with increasing prevalence in aging populations. When severe and symptomatic, the downstream prognosis is poor without surgical or transcatheter aortic valve replacement. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement is now considered a viable alternative to surgical aortic valve replacement in patients considered high and intermediate risk for surgery. Pre-intervention imaging with echocardiography and CT are essential for procedure planning and device selection to help optimize clinical outcomes with MR angiography playing largely a complementary role. Modern 3-D cross-sectional imaging has consistently shown to help reduce procedural complications from vascular access injury to paravalvular regurgitation and coronary obstruction. The American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria are evidence-based guidelines for specific clinical conditions that are reviewed annually by a multidisciplinary expert panel. The guideline development and revision include an extensive analysis of current medical literature from peer reviewed journals and the application of well-established methodologies (RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation or GRADE) to rate the appropriateness of imaging and treatment procedures for specific clinical scenarios. In those instances where evidence is lacking or equivocal, expert opinion may supplement the available evidence to recommend imaging or treatment.

ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Imaging of Deep Inferior Epigastric Arteries for Surgical Planning (Breast Reconstruction Surgery).

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women in the United States. Breast reconstruction surgery is a commonly used therapy for patients with breast cancer. The technique for the deep inferior epigastric perforator flap uses a preserved rectus muscle, which decreases donor site morbidity. Accurate identification and measurement of the perforator branches of the deep inferior epigastric artery is pivotal during pre-operative planning so that the surgeon can prioritize the best vessel to use and ultimately improve clinical outcome. The American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria are evidence-based guidelines for specific clinical conditions that are reviewed annually by a multidisciplinary expert panel. The guideline development and revision include an extensive analysis of current medical literature from peer reviewed journals and the application of well-established methodologies (RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation or GRADE) to rate the appropriateness of imaging and treatment procedures for specific clinical scenarios. In those instances where evidence is lacking or equivocal, expert opinion may supplement the available evidence to recommend imaging or treatment.

ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Penetrating Neck Injury.

In patients with penetrating neck injuries with clinical soft injury signs, and patients with hard signs of injury who do not require immediate surgery, CT angiography of the neck is the preferred imaging procedure to evaluate extent of injury. Other modalities, such as radiography and fluoroscopy, catheter-based angiography, ultrasound, and MR angiography have their place in the evaluation of the patient, depending on the specific clinical situation and question at hand. The ACR Appropriateness Criteria are evidence-based guidelines for specific clinical conditions that are reviewed annually by a multidisciplinary expert panel. The guideline development and revision include an extensive analysis of current medical literature from peer-reviewed journals and the application of well-established methodologies (RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation or GRADE) to rate the appropriateness of imaging and treatment procedures for specific clinical scenarios. In those instances where evidence is lacking or equivocal, expert opinion may supplement the available evidence to recommend imaging or treatment.

Quantification of radiation dose reduction by reducing z-axis coverage in 320-detector coronary CT angiography.

OBJECTIVE: To quantify the radiation dose reduction achievable by minimizing z-axis coverage in 320-detector coronary CT angiography (CCTA). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 130 CCTAs performed on 320-detector CT that offers up to 16 cm z-axis coverage (adjustable in 2-cm increments), allowing complete coverage of the heart in a single gantry rotation. For each CT, we obtained the radiation dose [CT dose index and dose-length product (DLP)], measured the z-axis field of view and measured the craniocaudal cardiac size (distance from the left main coronary artery to the cardiac apex). We calculated the radiation dose savings achievable by reducing the z-axis coverage to the minimum necessary to cover the heart using 320 × 0.5-mm (maximum 16 cm) and 256 × 0.5-mm (maximum 12.8 cm) detector collimations. RESULTS: Results are expressed as mean ± standard deviation. The mean craniocaudal cardiac size was 10.5 ± 1.0 cm, with 85% (n = 112) of CCTAs performed with 16 cm of z-axis coverage. The mean DLP was 417.6 ± 182.4 mGy cm, with the mean DLP saving achievable using the minimum z-axis coverage required to completely image the heart being 96.2 ± 47.4 mGy cm, an average dose reduction of 26.9 ± 7.0%. z-axis coverage of ≤12 cm was adequate for 92% and 12.8 cm for 98% of subjects. CONCLUSION: Using the minimal z-axis coverage to adequately image the heart is a simple step that can reduce the DLP in 320-detector CCTA by approximately 27%. z-axis coverage of ≤12 cm is adequate for 92%, 12.8 cm for 98% and 14 cm for 100% of patients undergoing CCTA. Advances in knowledge: Reducing z-axis coverage in 320-detector CCTA can reduce DLP by approximately 27%.

Cardiothoracic Applications of 3-dimensional Printing.

Medical 3-dimensional (3D) printing is emerging as a clinically relevant imaging tool in directing preoperative and intraoperative planning in many surgical specialties and will therefore likely lead to interdisciplinary collaboration between engineers, radiologists, and surgeons. Data from standard imaging modalities such as computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, echocardiography, and rotational angiography can be used to fabricate life-sized models of human anatomy and pathology, as well as patient-specific implants and surgical guides. Cardiovascular 3D-printed models can improve diagnosis and allow for advanced preoperative planning. The majority of applications reported involve congenital heart diseases and valvular and great vessels pathologies. Printed models are suitable for planning both surgical and minimally invasive procedures. Added value has been reported toward improving outcomes, minimizing perioperative risk, and developing new procedures such as transcatheter mitral valve replacements. Similarly, thoracic surgeons are using 3D printing to assess invasion of vital structures by tumors and to assist in diagnosis and treatment of upper and lower airway diseases. Anatomic models enable surgeons to assimilate information more quickly than image review, choose the optimal surgical approach, and achieve surgery in a shorter time. Patient-specific 3D-printed implants are beginning to appear and may have significant impact on cosmetic and life-saving procedures in the future. In summary, cardiothoracic 3D printing is rapidly evolving and may be a potential game-changer for surgeons. The imager who is equipped with the tools to apply this new imaging science to cardiothoracic care is thus ideally positioned to innovate in this new emerging imaging modality.

Cardiac metastasis from renal cell carcinoma in cardiac CT.

Cardiac metastases from RCC in the absence of transvenous spread are rare. We present a case of cardiac metastases from RCC demonstrating usefulness of cardiac CT in planning surgical management, which provides superior spatial resolution for evaluation of relationship between the tumor and coronary arteries.

Symptomatic Coronary Cameral Fistula.

Coronary cameral fistula is a rare entity and is characterized by an abnormal communication between coronary artery and a cardiac chamber. It is usually congenital and asymptomatic in majority of patients. If symptomatic the patients usually present in childhood. We present a case of 45-year-old male who presented with anginal chest pain and dyspnea on exertion for last 1 year. His exercise treadmill test was positive for ischemic changes and ECG-gated contrast enhanced CT was done for further evaluation. CT showed a large right coronary artery to right atrium fistula. It also ruled out any coronary atherosclerosis as reason for chest pain and ischemic symptoms on exercise treadmill test. The fistula was successfully closed by surgery and there was resolution of chest pain and dyspnea.

Traumatic right atrial pseudoaneurysm.

Pseudoaneurysm is defined as contained blood pooling due to rupture of vascular wall. They have higher risk of rupture and hence are usually managed aggressively. Trauma, infection and prior surgery are the most common etiologies for pseudoaneurysm of most sites. Traumatic cardiac pseudoaneurysm are rare and poses a diagnostic challenge to the treating physician since there is no specific symptoms associated with pseudoaneurysm and electrocardiogram; cardiac enzymes and echocardiogram may be unrevealing or inconclusive in many cases. Cross-sectional imaging [computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)] is done in cases with high index of suspicion and is the standard modality for diagnosis for cardiac pseudoaneurysm. We present a case of conservatively managed post-traumatic right atrial pseudoaneurysm with aim to highlight the role of electrocardiography (ECG)-gated multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) in diagnosis and follow-up of this rare entity that ultimately underwent rapid partial thrombosis.

Cardiac Calcifications in Adults with Congenital Heart Defects.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the type and extent of calcification in a series of heart specimens from adult congenital heart disease patients because recent autopsy observations suggested a high prevalence of calcification. DESIGN: We used computed tomography to examine seven heart specimens from adults (>18 years old) with a congenital heart defect collected with permission from the family during a recent 3-year period. Clinical data regarding diagnosis, history, and imaging studies were recorded. The 3D data sets were reviewed after reformatting as maximum intensity projection and volumetric renderings to determine the pattern and extent of calcium deposition. RESULTS: Five of the seven hearts had extensive calcifications in one or more of three patterns: atherosclerosis associated in the three oldest cases; surgery associated in four of five hearts that had undergone heart surgery; and myocardial calcification remote from surgical sites in two cases. Myocardial calcification was associated with regional dysfunction and was present in the three patients that died suddenly and unexpectedly. CONCLUSION: Cardiac calcification was frequent in our series of heart specimens from adults with congenital heart defects, was often but not uniformly associated with prior surgery, and, in our small series, was associated with regional dysfunction and sudden death.