Diagnostic accuracy of virtual non-contrast CT for aortic valve stenosis severity evaluation.

BACKGROUND: Computed tomography aortic valve calcium (AVC) score has accepted value for diagnosing and predicting outcomes in aortic stenosis (AS). Multi-energy CT (MECT) allows virtual non-contrast (VNC) reconstructions from contrast scans. We aim to compare the VNC-AVC score to the true non-contrast (TNC)-AVC score for assessing AS severity. METHODS: We prospectively included patients undergoing a MECT for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) planning. TNC-AVC was acquired before contrast, and VNC-AVC was derived from a retrospectively gated contrast-enhanced scan. The Agatston scoring method was used for quantification, and linear regression analysis to derive adjusted-VNC values. RESULTS: Among 109 patients (55% female) included, 43% had concordant severe and 14% concordant moderate AS. TNC scan median dose-length product was 116 â€‹mGy∗cm. The median TNC-AVC was 2,107 AU (1,093-3,372), while VNC-AVC was 1,835 AU (1293-2,972) after applying the coefficient (1.46) and constant (743) terms. A strong correlation was demonstrated between methods (r â€‹= â€‹0.93; p â€‹< â€‹0.001). Using accepted thresholds (>1,300 AU for women and >2,000 AU for men), 65% (n â€‹= â€‹71) of patients had severe AS by TNC-AVC and 67% (n â€‹= â€‹73) by adjusted-VNC-AVC. After estimating thresholds for adjusted-VNC (>1,564 AU for women and >2,375 AU for men), 56% (n â€‹= â€‹61) had severe AS, demonstrating substantial agreement with TNC-AVC (κ â€‹= â€‹0.77). CONCLUSIONS: MECT-derived VNC-AVC showed a strong correlation with TNC-AVC. After adjustment, VNC-AVC demonstrated substantial agreement with TNC-AVC, potentially eliminating the requirement for an additional scan and enabling reductions in both radiation exposure and acquisition time.

Influence of BMI on virtual coronary artery calcium scoring.

PURPOSE: Virtual non-contrast (VNC) coronary artery calcium scoring (CAC) may obviate the need for traditional non-contrast (TNC) CAC. There is no data on the influence of body mass index (BMI) on VNC reliability. We aimed to evaluate the influence of BMI on VNC CAC agreement with TNC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All patients who underwent sequential CAC and coronary CT angiography (CCTA) using spectral CT with TNC CAC > 0 between August 2020 and December 2021 were included. Agatston CAC scores were calculated manually by 2 blinded readers from VNC scans. A correction factor was calculated from the slope of the linear regression using the method of least squares and applied to the VNC scores. Bland-Altman plots and Cohen's weighted Kappa were utilized. RESULTS: We included 174 patients (57.5% female). Mean BMI was 32.6 ± 7.02 kg/m2 [BMI < 30 (39.7%); BMI 30-40 (45.4%); and BMI > 40 kg/m2 (14.9%)]. Mean TNC CAC was 177.8 ± 316.86 and mean VNC CAC after applying the correction factor 149.34 ± 296.73. The TNC value strongly correlated with VNC (r = 0.94; p < 0.0001). As BMI increased there was a progressive reduction in signal-to-noise ratio, contrast-to-noise ratio and coronary enhancement (p < 0.05). The degree of agreement between VNC and TNC CAC decreased as BMI increased (agreement = 91.79 (weighted Kappa = 0.72), 91.14 (weighted Kappa = 0.58) and 88.46% (weighted Kappa = 0.48) (all P values < 0.001) for BMI < 30; 30-40 and > 40 kg/m2, respectively). CONCLUSION: BMI has a significant influence on the accuracy of VNC CAC. VNC CAC shows substantial agreement in non-obese patients but performs poorly in BMI > 40 kg/m2. This is the first study to evaluate the influence of body mass index (BMI) on virtual non-contrast (VNC) coronary artery calcium scoring (CAC) as compared to traditional non-contrast (TNC). We retrospectively evaluated 174 patients with TNC CAC and two blinded reviewers manually calculated the VNC CAC. All cases were included without specific selection for quality. The ratio between the two directly proportional values was determined using the slope from the linear regression through the method of least squares. This correction factor of 2.65 was applied to the calcium scores obtained from VNC images. We found that VNC CAC shows substantial risk-class agreement with TNC in non-obese patients (agreement = 91.79 and weighted Kappa = 0.72) but performs poorly in BMI > 40 kg/m2 (agreement: 88.46% and weighted Kappa = 0.48). These findings show the potential use of VNC CAC to avoid additional radiation in non-obese patients. However, further research on potential improvement strategies for VNC CAC in obese patients is needed.

Tromboembolia pulmonar e infarto de miocardio embólico en paciente con trombo en tránsito a través de foramen oval permeable / Pulmonary embolism and embolic myocardial infarction in a patient with thrombi in transit through a patent foramen ovale

Resumen Se presenta el caso de una paciente ingresada por cuadro clínico de infarto agudo de miocardio con elevación del segmento ST. Tras la realización de una coronariografía emergente en la que se evidencia un trombo en la arteria coronaria derecha, sin objetivar lesiones ateroscleróticas, es diagnosticada de infarto de probable origen embólico. Tras realizar un ecocardiograma transtorácico, se detecta la presencia de trombos en las cavidades derechas e izquierdas del corazón. Por ello se realiza angiografía por tomografía computarizada con protocolo de embolia pulmonar, que confirma la presencia de embolia pulmonar bilateral masiva. Tras esto, se repitió el ecocardiograma transtorácico, hallándose un aneurisma del septo interauricular, con aparente protrusión de una masa trombótica a través de él. Se inició terapia anticoagulante con buena evolución por parte de la paciente, habiendo desaparecido los trombos en el ecocardiograma con test de burbujas que se realizó días después, en el que se demostró la presencia de un foramen oval permeable. Con la presentación de este caso se pretende, en primer lugar, ilustrar una afección que en contadas ocasiones se puede objetivar mediante prueba de imagen, y en segundo lugar, hacer una breve revisión del diagnóstico y el manejo del foramen oval permeable como parte del estudio de fuente embólica.

Abstract The authors describe a case of a patient admitted with ST elevation myocardial infarction. An emergent coronariography was done, showing a thrombus in the right coronary artery, without evidence of atherosclerotic lesions in the coronary bed. Due to this, she is diagnosed with probable embolic myocardial infarction. When she was performed a transthoracic echocardiography, the presence of free thrombi was detected in right and left chambers of the heart. Due to this, a CT angiography with pulmonary embolism protocol was done, confirming the presence of a massive bilateral pulmonary embolism. After that, a new trans-thoracic echocardiography was done, finding an aneurism at interatrial septum, with an apparent protrusion of thrombotic mass through it. The decision taken was initiating therapeutic anticoagulation, having the patient a positive evolution with disappearance of thrombi in the bubble test performed days later, and showing the presence of a patent foramen ovale. The purpose of the presentation of this case report is, firstly, illustrating an entity which in very few occasions can be demonstrated by imaging tests, and secondly, making a brief review of the diagnosis and management of the patent foramen ovale as a part of the study of embolic sources.

Cardiac tamponade secondary to leptospirosis. A rare association: A case report.

Herein is described the case of a 39-year-old female agronomist who was admitted to hospital after a syncopal episode. She had had fever, abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting for the previous month. The patient showed signs of hypoperfusion, so a trans-thoracic echocardiography was done, demonstrating the presence of a cardiac tamponade. An emergency pericardiocentesis was performed, draining 500 ml of hematic content. Thoracic-abdominal computed tomography showed bilateral pleural effusion and also peritoneal effusion. Laboratory tests were compatible with an inflammatory situation with neutrophilic leukocytosis, alteration of hepatic function, and a plateau elevation of high-sensitivity troponin T. Colchicine was initiated but the evolution of the patient was torpid, making necessary the performance of a pericardial window due to an abrupt increase of pericardial effusion and echocardiographic signs of impending cardiac tamponade. Two chest tubes were inserted due to an increasing bilateral pleural effusion. Serology was positive for Leptospira spp. so doxycycline was initiated. She reported that she had inspected a rice-field the previous month. The patient presented a good response to the treatment, being discharged from hospital completely asymptomatic, with no pericardial effusion and practically resolved pleural effusions. She was evaluated again one month later, with no trace of effusions or symptoms. .