Should NICE guidelines be universally accepted for the evaluation of stable coronary disease? A debate.

The 2016 National Institute of Health and Care Excellence clinical guideline for the assessment and diagnosis of chest pain positions coronary computed tomography angiography as the first test for all stable chest pain patients without confirmed coronary artery disease and discards the previous emphasis on calculation of pre-test likelihood recommended in their 2012 edition of the guidelines. On the other hand, the American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association and the European Society of Cardiology guidelines continue to present the stress testing functional modalities as the tests of choice. The aim of this review is to present, in the form of a debate, the pros and cons of these paradigm changing recommendations, with an emphasis on literature review and projection of future needs, with conclusions to be drawn by the reader.

Breast Arterial Calcification in the Mammogram Report: The Patient Perspective.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine patient attitudes about mammographic reporting of breast arterial calcification (BAC), result communication, and action. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A self-administered survey was created for this project and was offered to mammography patients presenting for screening or diagnostic mammography over a 1-month period. RESULTS: Among those who accepted questionnaires, 61.8% (419/678) responded with varying response rates to specific questions. A large percentage (95.8% [363/379]) preferred to have BAC reported. All 107 patients who were unaware of a personal history of heart disease wanted notification about BAC. There were 552 communication responses from 354 women. Among these responses, 62.5% (345/552) indicated a preference for notification from the radiology department by letter or telephone call. Among those who had a single preference, 76.6% (180/235) preferred notification by the radiology department in the patient results letter or by telephone call. Of those who chose one action option, 87.4% (181/207) indicated that they would undergo coronary artery CT before making a decision. Among those who selected multiple options, 53.2% (272/511) expressed a desire for coronary artery CT before making a decision. Age, level of education, and race were not associated with patients' attitudes toward BAC. CONCLUSION: Patients had an overwhelming preference to be informed about BAC found at mammography. Given the ease of reporting BAC and the calls by preventive cardiologists to have the information, the widespread adoption of BAC reporting on mammography reports can promote prevention, diagnosis, and if needed, treatment of cardiovascular disease.

Fractional Flow Reserve and Coronary Computed Tomographic Angiography: A Review and Critical Analysis.

Invasive fractional flow reserve (FFR) is now the gold standard for intervention. Noninvasive functional imaging analyses derived from coronary computed tomographic angiography (CTA) offer alternatives for evaluating lesion-specific ischemia. CT-FFR, CT myocardial perfusion imaging, and transluminal attenuation gradient/corrected contrast opacification have been studied using invasive FFR as the gold standard. CT-FFR has demonstrated significant improvement in specificity and positive predictive value compared with CTA alone for predicting FFR of ≤0.80, as well as decreasing the frequency of nonobstructive invasive coronary angiography. High-risk plaque characteristics have also been strongly implicated in abnormal FFR. Myocardial computed tomographic perfusion is an alternative method with promising results; it involves more radiation and contrast. Transluminal attenuation gradient/corrected contrast opacification is more controversial and may be more related to vessel diameter than stenosis. Important considerations remain: (1) improvement of CTA quality to decrease unevaluable studies, (2) is the diagnostic accuracy of CT-FFR sufficient? (3) can CT-FFR guide intervention without invasive FFR confirmation? (4) what are the long-term outcomes of CT-FFR-guided treatment and how do they compare with other functional imaging-guided paradigms? (5) what degree of stenosis on CTA warrants CT-FFR? (6) how should high-risk plaque be incorporated into treatment decisions? (7) how will CT-FFR influence other functional imaging test utilization, and what will be the effect on the practice of cardiology? (8) will a workstation-based CT-FFR be mandatory? Rapid progress to date suggests that CTA-based lesion-specific ischemia will be the gatekeeper to the cardiac catheterization laboratory and will transform the world of intervention.

Prognostic Determinants of Coronary Atherosclerosis in Stable Ischemic Heart Disease: Anatomy, Physiology, or Morphology?

Risk stratification in patients with stable ischemic heart disease is essential to guide treatment decisions. In this regard, whether coronary anatomy, physiology, or plaque morphology is the best determinant of prognosis (and driver an effective therapeutic risk reduction) remains one of the greatest ongoing debates in cardiology. In the present report, we review the evidence for each of these characteristics and explore potential algorithms that may enable a practical diagnostic and therapeutic strategy for the management of patients with stable ischemic heart disease.

Do plaques rapidly progress prior to myocardial infarction? The interplay between plaque vulnerability and progression.

There is a common misperception in the cardiology community that most acute coronary events arise from ruptures of mildly stenotic plaques. This notion has emanated from multiple studies that had measured the degree of angiographic luminal narrowing in culprit plaques months to years before myocardial infarction. However, angiographic studies within 3 months before myocardial infarction, immediately after myocardial infarction with thrombus aspiration or fibrinolytic therapy, and postmortem pathological observations have all shown that culprit plaques in acute myocardial infarction are severely stenotic. Serial angiographic studies also have demonstrated a sudden rapid lesion progression before most cases of acute coronary syndromes. The possible mechanisms for such rapid plaque progression and consequent luminal obstruction include recurrent plaque rupture and healing and intraplaque neovascularization and hemorrhage with deposition of erythrocyte-derived free cholesterol. Moreover, recent intravascular and noninvasive imaging studies have demonstrated that plaques which result in coronary events have larger plaque volume and necrotic core size with greater positive vessel remodeling compared with plaques, which remain asymptomatic during several years follow-up, although these large atheromatous vulnerable plaques may angiographically seem mild. As such, it is these vulnerable plaques which are more prone to rapid plaque progression or are those in which plaque progression is more likely to become clinically evident. Therefore, in addition to characterizing plaque morphology, inflammatory activity, and severity, detection of the rate of plaque progression might identify vulnerable plaques with an increased potential for adverse outcomes.

The journal of cardiovascular computed tomography: A year in review: 2022.

This review aims to summarize key articles published in the Journal of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography (JCCT) in 2022, focusing on those that had the most scientific and educational impact. The JCCT continues to expand; the number of submissions, published manuscripts, cited articles, article downloads, social media presence, and impact factor continues to grow. The articles selected by the Editorial Board of the JCCT in this review highlight the role of cardiovascular computed tomography (CCT) to detect subclinical atherosclerosis, assess the functional relevance of stenoses, and plan invasive coronary and valve procedures. A section is dedicated to CCT in infants and other patients with congenital heart disease, in women, and to the importance of training in CT. In addition, we highlight key consensus documents and guidelines published in JCCT last year. The Journal values the tremendous work by authors, reviewers, and editors to accomplish these contributions.

Subclinical atherosclerosis imaging comes of age: coronary artery calcium in primary prevention.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The goal of this review is to update the contributions of subclinical atherosclerosis imaging of coronary artery calcified plaque (CAC) to the primary prevention of coronary artery disease. RECENT FINDINGS: Recent articles have increased support for the following: superiority of CAC determined risk to conventional risk factor-based paradigms, reclassification of risk by CAC, serial CAC scanning to assess the efficacy of therapy, CAC evaluation of high-risk groups (diabetes and other disease states characterized by inflammation), and redefinition of normal and abnormal lipids, ideal treatment goals and residual risk, as well as statin potency. SUMMARY: The paradigm shifts implicit in the supremacy of CAC herald a transformation in primary prevention from conventional risk factor paradigms to the evaluation of the disease itself by subclinical atherosclerosis imaging.

Thoracic splenosis: noninvasive diagnosis using Technetium-99 sulfur colloid.

Splenosis is the autotransplantation of splenic tissue to abnormal sites, either the abdomen or thorax, following traumatic injury of the spleen. For splenic tissue to reach the thorax, there must be concomitant diaphragmatic injury. Thoracic splenosis is usually discovered incidentally on routine thoracic imaging as single or multiple, indeterminate pleural-based masses limited to the left hemithorax. Traditionally, diagnosis required invasive procedures and/or surgery to acquire tissue samples in order to rule out other causes of lung masses, ie, cancer. We report a case in which nuclear imaging was used to make the diagnosis of thoracic splenosis, thus preventing the need for invasive procedures and avoiding unnecessary patient apprehension.

Quantitative assessment of atherosclerotic plaque, recent progress and current limitations.

An important advantage of computed tomography coronary angiography (CCTA) is its ability to visualize the presence and severity of atherosclerotic plaque, rather than just assessing coronary artery stenoses. Until recently, assessment of plaque subtypes on CCTA relied on visual assessment of the extent of calcified/non-calcified plaque, or visually identifying high-risk plaque characteristics. Recent software developments facilitate the quantitative assessment of plaque volume or burden on CCTA, and the identification of subtypes of plaque based on their attenuation density. These techniques have shown promise in single and multicenter studies, demonstrating that the amount and type of plaque are associated with subsequent cardiac events. However, there are a number of limitations to the application of these techniques, including the limitations imposed by the spatial resolution of current CT scanners, challenges from variations between reconstruction algorithms, and the additional time to perform these assessments. At present, these are a valuable research technique, but not yet part of routine clinical practice. Future advances that improve CT resolution, standardize acquisition techniques and reconstruction algorithms and automate image analysis will improve the clinical utility of these techniques. This review will discuss the technical aspects of quantitative plaque analysis and present pro and con arguments for the routine use of quantitative plaque analysis on CCTA.

Cardiac CT angiography in current practice: An American society for preventive cardiology clinical practice statement✰.

In this clinical practice statement, we represent a summary of the current evidence and clinical applications of cardiac computed tomography (CT) in evaluation of coronary artery disease (CAD), from an expert panel organized by the American Society for Preventive Cardiology (ASPC), and appraises the current use and indications of cardiac CT in clinical practice. Cardiac CT is emerging as a front line non-invasive diagnostic test for CAD, with evidence supporting the clinical utility of cardiac CT in diagnosis and prevention. CCTA offers several advantages beyond other testing modalities, due to its ability to identify and characterize coronary stenosis severity and pathophysiological changes in coronary atherosclerosis and stenosis, aiding in early diagnosis, prognosis and management of CAD. This document further explores the emerging applications of CCTA based on functional assessment using CT derived fractional flow reserve, peri­coronary inflammation and artificial intelligence (AI) that can provide personalized risk assessment and guide targeted treatment. We sought to provide an expert consensus based on the latest evidence and best available clinical practice guidelines regarding the role of CCTA as an essential tool in cardiovascular prevention - applicable to risk assessment and early diagnosis and management, noting potential areas for future investigation.

The Journal of cardiovascular computed tomography: A year in review 2021.

This review aims to summarize original articles published in the Journal of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography (JCCT) for the year 2021, focusing on those that had the most scientific and educational impact. The JCCT continues to expand; the number of submissions, published manuscripts, cited articles, article downloads, social media presence, and impact factor continues to increase. The articles selected by the Editorial Board of the JCCT in this review focus on coronary artery disease, coronary physiology, structural heart disease, and technical advances in cardiovascular CT. In addition, we highlight key consensus documents and guidelines published in the Journal in 2021. The Journal recognizes the tremendous work done by each author and reviewer this year - thank you.

The role of atherosclerosis imaging in redefining normal and abnormal cholesterol values, and risk reduction in primary prevention statin trials.

The emergence of atherosclerosis imaging, using coronary calcium scanning (CAC) and carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) and plaque as stronger predictors of cardiovascular events than risk factors of atherosclerosis, has created a paradigm shift in the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. Rather than population-derived indices to define normal or abnormal low-density lipoprotein (or other lipid values) in the untreated individual patient, it is more appropriate to define "normal" as "cholesterol values at which level there is no subclinical atherosclerosis" and "abnormal" as "cholesterol values at which level there is subclinical atherosclerosis," with the severity of "abnormal" depending on the degree of subclinical atherosclerosis. Similarly, the low-density lipoprotein treatment goal is the level at which atherosclerosis progression is halted. Extension of the subclinical atherosclerosis risk-based paradigms to primary prevention trials dramatically changes the manner in which trials should be conducted in the future, as well as the results of trials already performed. For example, asymptomatic patients with a CAC score of 0 have an extraordinarily low event rate but have been included in primary prevention statin trials even though their risk without treatment is very small. Reanalysis of the statin primary prevention trials after excluding the percentage (40%) of patients who would be expected to have a CAC score of 0 yields an absolute risk increase of 60% in both the placebo group (from 5.4% to 8.5%), and the statin group (from 3.0% to 4.8%). Absolute risk reduction increased by 58% (from 2.4% to 3.8%). Relative risk reduction of 44% was unchanged. In conclusion, 1) the presence or absence of atherosclerosis as measured by CAC redefines normal or abnormal lipid levels in an individual patient; 2) statin absolute risk reduction is significantly greater than previously appreciated; and 3) patients with a CAC score of 0 should be excluded from primary prevention randomized controlled trials.

Current and evolving stent evaluation by coronary computed tomographic angiography.

OBJECTIVES: To demonstrate the variety of stent abnormalities that may be evaluated by coronary computed tomographic angiography (CTA). BACKGROUND: The application of CTA to the evaluation of coronary stents has focused almost entirely on the detection of in-stent restenosis. METHODS: All CTA performed for stent evaluation at a single institution were reviewed. RESULTS: In addition to in-stent restenosis, stent fracture, and overlap failure, a multiplicity of stent-related problems not previously addressed by CTA was categorized and illustrated: late stent thrombosis, jailed branches, edge stenosis, bifurcation stents, inadequate stent expansion, stent aneurysms, peri-stent plaque, and stenting into bridged myocardium. CONCLUSIONS: CTA may be used to evaluate the full range of stent-related problems. This work provides the framework for future studies validating these applications.

Stent sizing by coronary computed tomographic angiography: comparison with conventional coronary angiography in an experienced setting.

OBJECTIVES: The goal was to compare stent sizing by coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) with that deployed in an experienced setting based upon conventional coronary angiography (CA). BACKGROUND: Stent sizing is currently performed by visual estimation, with infrequent guidance by intravascular ultrasound. CCTA permits quantitative determination of stent length (Stent L) and diameter (Stent D). METHODS: Projected L (CTA-Stent L) and D (CTA-Stent D) were determined from CCTA obtained in 248 patients with 352 lesions undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention within 4 months of the CCTA, and were compared to the Stent-L and Stent-D of the actually deployed stents. The effects of lesion modification and calcified plaque were also evaluated. RESULTS: There were significant correlations between CTA-Stent L and Stent L (r = 0.656, P < 0.0001) and between CTA-Stent D and Stent D (r = 0.40, P < 0.001). Median predicted CTA-Stent L was slightly longer (20 mm vs. 18 mm, P < 0.0001) and predicted CTA-Stent D was slightly smaller (3.0 mm vs. 3.2 mm, P < 0.0001) than Stent-L and Stent-D, respectively. The differences were unchanged in stents with lesion modification by pre-dilation or intracoronary nitroglycerin. CTA Stent-L and CTA Stent-D increased significantly with increasing calcium (P < 0.0001 and P = 0.019, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: (1) There are significant correlations between CCTA and CA based stent sizing in an experienced setting. (2) CCTA projects slightly longer and slightly smaller diameter stents than those deployed during PCI irrespective of lesion modification; the small differences are unlikely to have clinical significance. (3) CCTA may offer a noninvasive alternative to intravascular ultrasound for stent planning.

Coronary artery calcium: utilization for primary prevention of CHD.

The rapidly accumulating data supporting coronary artery calcium (CAC) has necessitated multiple paradigm shifts in primary prevention: 1) CAC is the most powerful predictor of cardiac risk in the asymptomatic primary prevention population. 2) The most important role of risk factors may be to identify the modifiable targets of risk reduction in patients with risk already established by CAC. 3) "Normal cholesterol" values derived from population-based studies are not relevant for individual patients. 4) Measures of subclinical atherosclerosis (ie, serial CAC), rather than lipid values, define residual risk just as they define pretreatment risk. 5) Randomized controlled trials are not a prerequisite for implementation of CAC screening. 6) Trials evaluating lipid-treating drugs should exclude patients with 0 CAC. 7) CAC is the most cost-effective primary prevention approach.

The Journal of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography: 2020 Year in review.

The purpose of this review is to highlight the most impactful, educational, and frequently downloaded articles published in the Journal of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography (JCCT) for the year 2020. The JCCT reached new records in 2020 for the number of research submissions, published manuscripts, article downloads and social media impressions. The articles in this review were selected by the Editorial Board of the JCCT and are comprised predominately of original research publications in the following categories: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), coronary artery disease, coronary physiology, structural heart disease, and technical advances. The Editorial Board would like to thank each of the authors, peer-reviewers and the readers of JCCT for making 2020 one of the most successful years in its history, despite the challenging circumstances of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography / North American Society of Cardiovascular Imaging - Expert Consensus Document on Coronary CT Imaging of Atherosclerotic Plaque.

Coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) provides a wealth of clinically meaningful information beyond anatomic stenosis alone, including the presence or absence of nonobstructive atherosclerosis and high-risk plaque features as precursors for incident coronary events. There is, however, no uniform agreement on how to identify and quantify these features or their use in evidence-based clinical decision-making. This statement from the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography and North American Society of Cardiovascular Imaging addresses this gap and provides a comprehensive review of the available evidence on imaging of coronary atherosclerosis. In this statement, we provide standardized definitions for high-risk plaque (HRP) features and distill the evidence on the effectiveness of risk stratification into usable practice points. This statement outlines how this information should be communicated to referring physicians and patients by identifying critical elements to include in a structured CCTA report - the presence and severity of atherosclerotic plaque (descriptive statements, CAD-RADS™ categories), the segment involvement score, HRP features (e.g., low attenuation plaque, positive remodeling), and the coronary artery calcium score (when performed). Rigorous documentation of atherosclerosis on CCTA provides a vital opportunity to make recommendations for preventive care and to initiate and guide an effective care strategy for at-risk patients.

The Journal of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography year in review - 2019.

The purpose of this review is to summarize the work published by the Journal of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography (JCCT) for the year 2019, highlighting original research and new guidelines.