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Clinical Advances in Cardiac Computed Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

A special issue of Journal of Clinical Medicine (ISSN 2077-0383). This special issue belongs to the section "Cardiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 December 2023) | Viewed by 5023

Special Issue Editor

Cardiology Department, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, 9103102 Jerusalem, Israel
Interests: computed tomography; myocardial infarction; cardiac CT; cardiac imaging; cardiac MRI; cardiovascular imaging

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Advanced cardiac imaging, which comprises cardiac CT, cardiac MRI and nuclear cardiology, is an ever-evolving field. What started some two decades ago as a small specialty is currently a major discipline that impacts all areas of cardiology, from prevention to congestive heart failure, through electrophysiology, coronary artery disease and structural heart diseases. The unique challenges that confronted imagers, radiographers, engineers, and computer scientists operating in this field fueled technological advances that had a ripple effect on the whole field of radiology. Moreover, the novel discoveries yielded by these modalities promoted new concepts and strategies that eventually led to a shift in clinical practice. In view of the flourishing technological advances and abundance of new clinical data, the aim of this Special Issue is to provide a perspective on technological innovation and clinical discoveries using cardiac imaging modalities.

Dr. Arik Wolak
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • cardiac imaging
  • cardiovascular imaging
  • cardiac CT
  • cardiac MRI
  • nuclear cardiology
  • heart failure
  • coronary artery disease
  • cardiac electrophysiology
  • clinical practice

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 8350 KiB  
Article
Anomalous Origin of Left Circumflex Artery from the Right Sinus of Valsalva in Cardiac Computed Tomography in a Group of 16,680 Patients—Radiologic and Clinical Characteristics
by Alexander Suchodolski, Jan Głowacki and Mariola Szulik
J. Clin. Med. 2023, 12(23), 7240; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12237240 - 22 Nov 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1527
Abstract
Background: Anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery (AAOCA) is the most prevalent form of coronary anomaly. One variant of AAOCA is the anomalous origin of the left circumflex artery from the right sinus of Valsalva, which can be detected using cardiac computed [...] Read more.
Background: Anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery (AAOCA) is the most prevalent form of coronary anomaly. One variant of AAOCA is the anomalous origin of the left circumflex artery from the right sinus of Valsalva, which can be detected using cardiac computed tomography (CT). However, limited data are available regarding the natural history of this anomaly, its impact on myocardial function, and associated symptoms. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 16,680 CT exams (cardiac and chest) performed between 2015 and 2022 at our Heart Imaging Department, utilising a dual-source 128-slice CT scanner (SOMATOM Definition Flash, Siemens Healthineers, Forchheim, Germany). A registry of patients with anomalous origin of the circumflex artery from the right sinus of Valsalva (RCx) was established. The study included 56 cases of RCx (0.33%). Clinical information was obtained from medical records. RCx was defined as a circumflex artery originating from the right sinus of Valsalva (type I or II) or the right coronary artery (type III). Two researchers independently reevaluated each CT exam in our study group to ensure accurate radiologic descriptions and provide additional precise radiologic information regarding the anomaly, including high-risk features. Results: Our study comprised 56 patients, with approximately equal distribution between males (n = 30, 54%) and females (n = 26, 46%), and with a median age of 59 years. Coronary heart disease (CAD) was known in 23% of patients (n = 13), while 11% (n = 6) were obese (defined as a BMI > 30 kg/m2), and 13% (n = 7) were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Only 9% of patients (n = 5) were smokers. Dyslipidemia was the most prevalent atherosclerotic risk factor, affecting approximately one third of patients (n = 17, 30%). In 14% (n = 8) of patients, heart failure was observed, while 13% (n = 7) were diagnosed with atrial fibrillation. Type I RCx was the most common subtype, identified in 48% of patients (n = 27) with this anomaly. Type II and Type III were found in 25% (n = 14) and 27% (n = 15) of patients, respectively. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that RCx is frequently encountered as an incidental finding, and we did not identify a consistent clinical characteristic in all patients with this type of anomaly. Furthermore, no gender predominance was associated with RCx. The natural history of this anomaly and its clinical implications seem benign. Further research is warranted to better understand this anomaly’s natural course and clinical implications. Full article
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21 pages, 22758 KiB  
Article
The Role of Echocardiography and Cardiac Computed Tomography in Diagnosis of Infective Endocarditis
by Ana Petkovic, Nemanja Menkovic, Olga Petrovic, Ilija Bilbija, Nikola N. Radovanovic, Dejana Stanisavljevic, Svetozar Putnik, Ruzica Maksimovic and Branislava Ivanovic
J. Clin. Med. 2023, 12(17), 5482; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12175482 - 25 Aug 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1610
Abstract
Background: Infective endocarditis (IE) is a rare disease with a high mortality rate and rising incidence, requiring timely and precise diagnosis in order to choose appropriate therapy. Imaging of morphologic lesions is an integrative part of diagnosis. Artifacts and the patient’s habitus make [...] Read more.
Background: Infective endocarditis (IE) is a rare disease with a high mortality rate and rising incidence, requiring timely and precise diagnosis in order to choose appropriate therapy. Imaging of morphologic lesions is an integrative part of diagnosis. Artifacts and the patient’s habitus make echocardiography difficult to visualize advanced-form IE. Cardiac computed tomography (CCT) constantly shows an additive diagnostic value due to high resolution of cardiac anatomy. Conjecturally, joint application of both diagnostic tests improves overall sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing IE. Methods: Patients with definite IE underwent transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), and CCT. We analyzed valvular and paravalvular IE lesions in all three imaging methods and compared them to surgical or autopsy findings. We calculated sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic accuracy, and positive and negative predictive value of both imaging tests individually and jointly used. Results: We examined 78 patients, male to female ratio 2:1, mean age 52.29 ± 16.62. We analyzed 85 valves, 70 native valves, 13 prosthetic valves, and 2 corrected valves due to Ozaki procedure, along with a central shunt and 4 pacemaker leads. As a single test, the sensitivity and specificity of CCT, TTE, and TEE for valvular lesions were 91.6/20%, 65.5/57.9%, and 60/84%, and paravalvular lesions were 100/0%, 46/10.5%, and 14.7/100%. When combined together, sensitivity and specificity for valvular lesions rose to 96.6/0% and paravalvular lesions to 100/0%. We also analyzed the diagnostic performance for each test in single and mutual application, per specific IE lesion. Conclusion: In the individual application, CCT in comparison to TTE and TEE shows better diagnostic performance in detection of valvular and paravalvular lesions. In joint application, there is a statistically significant difference in performance compared to their single use, especially in prosthetic valves and invasive forms of IE native valves. Full article
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12 pages, 3770 KiB  
Article
Clinical Feasibility of Deep Learning-Based Image Reconstruction on Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography
by Seul Ah Koo, Yunsub Jung, Kyoung A Um, Tae Hoon Kim, Ji Young Kim and Chul Hwan Park
J. Clin. Med. 2023, 12(10), 3501; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12103501 - 16 May 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1448
Abstract
This study evaluated the feasibility of deep-learning-based image reconstruction (DLIR) on coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA). By using a 20 cm water phantom, the noise reduction ratio and noise power spectrum were evaluated according to the different reconstruction methods. Then 46 patients who [...] Read more.
This study evaluated the feasibility of deep-learning-based image reconstruction (DLIR) on coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA). By using a 20 cm water phantom, the noise reduction ratio and noise power spectrum were evaluated according to the different reconstruction methods. Then 46 patients who underwent CCTA were retrospectively enrolled. CCTA was performed using the 16 cm coverage axial volume scan technique. All CT images were reconstructed using filtered back projection (FBP); three model-based iterative reconstructions (MBIR) of 40%, 60%, and 80%; and three DLIR algorithms: low (L), medium (M), and high (H). Quantitative and qualitative image qualities of CCTA were compared according to the reconstruction methods. In the phantom study, the noise reduction ratios of MBIR-40%, MBIR-60%, MBIR-80%, DLIR-L, DLIR-M, and DLIR-H were 26.7 ± 0.2%, 39.5 ± 0.5%, 51.7 ± 0.4%, 33.1 ± 0.8%, 43.2 ± 0.8%, and 53.5 ± 0.1%, respectively. The pattern of the noise power spectrum of the DLIR images was more similar to FBP images than MBIR images. In a CCTA study, CCTA yielded a significantly lower noise index with DLIR-H reconstruction than with the other reconstruction methods. DLIR-H showed a higher SNR and CNR than MBIR (p < 0.05). The qualitative image quality of CCTA with DLIR-H was significantly higher than that of MBIR-80% or FBP. The DLIR algorithm was feasible and yielded a better image quality than the FBP or MBIR algorithms on CCTA. Full article
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