Current Cardiovascular Imaging Reports This is an RSS file. You can use it to subscribe to this data in your favourite RSS reader or to display this data on your own website or blog.

Coronary Artery Calcium Measurement to Assist in Primary Prevention Decisions for Aspirin and Lipid-Lowering Therapies
AbstractPurpose of ReviewWe evaluated the role of CAC in guiding primary prevention with lipid-lowering medications and aspirin.Recent FindingsZero CAC is associated with low risk of future CVD events. Statin use does not weaken the prognostic utility of CAC. CAC scoring has clinical utility in patients with severe primary hypercholesteremia, hypertension, diabetes/metabolic syndrome, and in the young and older adults. The timing for repeat CAC measurement depends on baseline ASCVD risk and generally varies from 3 to 7  years.SummaryCAC is a cost-effective risk stratification approach useful in guiding shared clinical dec...
Source: Current Cardiovascular Imaging Reports - December 6, 2021 Category: Radiology Source Type: research

Cardiac Computed Tomography for Amyloidosis
AbstractPurpose of ReviewDetecting cardiac amyloid (CA) is challenging. Traditional approaches have not always succeeded in achieving a timely diagnosis. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) has begun to change this, but access to CMR may be limited due to availability or contraindications and may not be considered if clinical suspicion is not high. In contrast, cardiac CT (CCT) is widely available, fast, and has few contraindications. In this review, we will consider the role of CCT to identify CA using anatomy, function, and tissue characteristics.Recent FindingsWe discuss the different CT protocols that have been em...
Source: Current Cardiovascular Imaging Reports - November 18, 2021 Category: Radiology Source Type: research

Intracoronary Imaging for Bypass Graft Assessment and Intervention
AbstractPurpose of ReveiwTo compile knowledge of expected intravascular imaging findings in coronary venous and arterial bypass grafts, both at baseline and in diseased states in order to improve understanding of the pathology demonstrated in failing grafts. Also, to learn how intravascular imaging could be used to guide necessary graft interventions and to consider whether imaging practices in grafts could become formalized or potentially influence outcomes of graft interventions, which are notoriously poor.Recent FindingsDisease in saphenous vein grafts has features overlapping with pathology in native vessels, but can a...
Source: Current Cardiovascular Imaging Reports - October 8, 2021 Category: Radiology Source Type: research

Intravascular Ultrasound Use for Iliac Vein Interventions
AbstractPurpose of ReviewTo summarize the most clinically pertinent data supporting IVUS in deep venous procedures, the basics of IVUS interpretation, technical steps of iliac vein stenting, and typical interventional case examples of acute iliofemoral deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and non-thrombotic iliac vein lesion (NIVL).Recent FindingsIntravascular ultrasound (IVUS) has a fundamental role in deep venous diagnostic and interventional procedures. Venography, although essential and complimentary to IVUS, has many limitations which render it insufficient as a stand-alone imaging modality in deep venous interventions. The dia...
Source: Current Cardiovascular Imaging Reports - September 29, 2021 Category: Radiology Source Type: research

Sex Differences in Intracoronary Imaging and Functional Evaluation of Coronary Arteries
AbstractPurposeCoronary artery disease encompasses broad pathologies beyond atherosclerosis such as spontaneous coronary artery dissection, myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary artery disease, and microvascular dysfunction. These diagnoses often warrant more detailed evaluations with intracoronary imaging or functional testing. In this review, we highlight the reported sex differences in intracoronary imaging and functional evaluation of the coronary arteries.Recent FindingsThe diagnosis and treatment of women presenting with acute or chronic coronary syndromes have been fraught with disparities given the po...
Source: Current Cardiovascular Imaging Reports - September 17, 2021 Category: Radiology Source Type: research

Integrating Intracoronary Imaging into PCI Workflow and Catheterization Laboratory Culture
This article aims to explore barriers to the use of intracoronary imaging during PCI and potential strategies to improve the uptake of intracoronary imaging in the catheterization laboratory.Recent FindingsOver the past decade, several randomized trials have supported the use of intracoronary imaging in PCI to improve outcome. However, registry data has suggested that the uptake of intracoronary imaging has been particularly slow in the USA. Important barriers to the use of intracoronary imaging include procedural time, cost, perceived risk, and lack of familiarity with imaging use and interpretation. Potential strategies ...
Source: Current Cardiovascular Imaging Reports - September 8, 2021 Category: Radiology Source Type: research

40 Years Anniversary of Cardiac 123I-mIBG Imaging: State of the Heart
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThis narrative review reflects on the body of evidence on cardiac123I-mIBG imaging that has accumulated since the introduction in the late 1970s and focusses on to what extent cardiac123I-mIBG imaging has fulfilled its potential in cardiology especially.Recent FindingsIn contrast to the linear relationship between123I-mIBG-derived parameters and overall prognosis in heart failure, there seems a “bell-shape” curve for123I-mIBG-derived parameters and arrhythmic events. In addition, there is a potential clinical role for cardiac123I-mIBG in optimizing patient selection for expensive devices (i.e.,...
Source: Current Cardiovascular Imaging Reports - September 3, 2021 Category: Radiology Source Type: research

The Evolution of Virtual Physiologic Assessments and Virtual Coronary Intervention to Optimize Revascularization
AbstractPurpose of ReviewIn this review, we summarize the use of virtual physiologic functional assessments of coronary artery disease and their utility to guide virtual coronary intervention (VCI).Recent FindingsVirtual fractional flow reserve (vFFR), coronary angiography –derived fractional flow reserve (FFRangio), virtual contrast FFR (cFFR), and quantitative flow reserve (QFR) are four technologies that generate computer-based FFR measurements comparable to the gold standard of pressure-wire-based FFR. VCI capitalizes on this technology by utilizing pre- and post-vFFR assessments to predict the physiologic response t...
Source: Current Cardiovascular Imaging Reports - July 15, 2021 Category: Radiology Source Type: research

Computational Simulation, Bench Testing, and Modeling: Novel Tools to Strategize and Optimize Interventional Procedures
AbstractPurpose of ReviewAlthough simulation was adopted many years ago to complement training programs, more recently it has become an integral part of planning individual invasive procedures as well as understanding and developing new devices and techniques. Here, we review the different types of simulation and modeling and their impact on the field of interventional cardiology.Recent FindingsThree-dimensional model printing has been employed to strategize complex structural procedures for various congenital heart defects and valvular heart diseases. Ex vivo bench testing permitted understanding the relationship of new t...
Source: Current Cardiovascular Imaging Reports - July 7, 2021 Category: Radiology Source Type: research

USPIOs as Targeted Contrast Agents in Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging
AbstractPurpose of ReviewWe aim to discuss the diagnostic use of ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide (USPIO) including ferumoxytol in targeted cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).Recent FindingsFerumoxytol is the only USPIO clinically available in the USA and is a negatively charged USPIO that has potential use for tracking and characterization of macrophage-infiltrated cardiovascular structures. As an iron supplement that is approved for treatment of iron deficiency anemia, the iron core of ferumoxytol is incorporated into the body once it is phagocytosed by macrophages. In organs or tissues with high-infl...
Source: Current Cardiovascular Imaging Reports - February 26, 2021 Category: Radiology Source Type: research

From Inception to 2020: a Review of Dynamic Myocardial CT Perfusion Imaging
AbstractPurpose of ReviewDynamic myocardial CT perfusion imaging (CTP) is an emerging new approach to establish the hemodynamic severity of coronary artery obstructions. Literature and consensus documents on its practical applicability are limited.Recent FindingsDespite significant amount of literature supporting the diagnostic accuracy of dynamic CTP and its incremental value over CTA in the last decade, its use has been relatively limited.SummaryObstacles to its broader clinical use may include knowledge gaps associated with dynamic CTP imaging. We review patient preparation, scanning protocols, scanner requirements, opt...
Source: Current Cardiovascular Imaging Reports - January 5, 2021 Category: Radiology Source Type: research

Cardiac Magnetic Resonance in Pulmonary Hypertension —an Update
This article reviews advances over the past 3  years in cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging in pulmonary hypertension (PH). We aim to bring the reader up-to-date with CMR applications in diagnosis, prognosis, 4D flow, strain analysis, T1 mapping, machine learning and ongoing research.Recent FindingsCMR volumetric and functional metrics are now established as valuable prognostic markers in PH. This imaging modality is increasingly used to assess treatment response and improves risk stratification when incorporated into PH risk scores. Emerging techniques such as myocardial T1 mapping may play a role in the follow-up o...
Source: Current Cardiovascular Imaging Reports - November 7, 2020 Category: Radiology Source Type: research

Artificial Intelligence in Cardiac CT: Automated Calcium Scoring and Plaque Analysis
AbstractPurpose of ReviewTo review the current applications of artificial intelligence (AI) for coronary artery calcium scoring (CACS) and plaque analysis with their achievements and potential clinical impacts.Recent FindingsRecent advances of AI-based technologies especially deep learning (DL) approaches in medical imaging have achieved substantial progress in automated detection and characterization of coronary atherosclerotic plaques, providing promising results for AI application in diagnosis and management of coronary artery disease.SummaryTo date, many studies investigated the potential role of DL in CACS and showed ...
Source: Current Cardiovascular Imaging Reports - October 1, 2020 Category: Radiology Source Type: research

Review: FFRCT Changing the Face of Cardiac CT
AbstractPurpose of ReviewNon-invasive fractional flow reserve derived from CT coronary angiography (FFRCT) offers an amalgamation of both coronary anatomy and physiology. This review aims to provide a contemporary evaluation of the evidence for clinical use of FFRCT. The review article pays particular attention to the importance of patient preparation, anatomical features, scan quality and the overall interpretation of results that can lead to the best use of FFRCT analysis. Previous cost evaluations of the technology are compared and reviewed.Recent FindingsDiagnostic accuracy of FFRCT in comparison with CTA has been esta...
Source: Current Cardiovascular Imaging Reports - September 11, 2020 Category: Radiology Source Type: research

Role of Intravascular Imaging in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection
The objective of this article is to review the role of intracoronary imaging in the management of patients with spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD). In this review article, we discuss the types of intracoronary imaging including intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) and their relative strengths and weaknesses. Additionally, we discuss in detail the findings on IVUS and OCT and how these modalities can be used for optimization of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in SCAD cases.Recent FindingsWhile coronary angiography is the first-line investigation for diagnosis of SCAD, it...
Source: Current Cardiovascular Imaging Reports - July 10, 2020 Category: Radiology Source Type: research