The Effect of Heart Rate on Exposure Window and Best Phase for Stress Perfusion Computed Tomography: Lessons From the CORE320 Study

Objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of heart rate on exposure window, best phase, and image quality for stress computed tomography perfusion (CTP) in the CORE320 study. Methods: The CTP data sets were analyzed to determine the best phase for perfusion analysis. A predefined exposure window covering 75% to 95% of the R-R cycle was used. Results: Of the 368 patients included in the analysis, 93% received oral β blockade before the rest scan. The median heart rate during the stress acquisition was 69 bpm (interquartile range [IQR], 60–77). The median best phase was 81% (IQR, 76–90), and length of exposure window was 22% (IQR, 19–24). The best phase was significantly later in the cardiac cycle with higher heart rates (P
Source: Journal of Computer Assisted Tomography - Category: Radiology Tags: Cardiothoracic Imaging Source Type: research