Background: In 2010, the International Atomic Energy Agency launched the “3A’s campaign” as an effective tool for primary cancer prevention. In 2011, the American Association of Physicists in Medicine recommended t...Background: In 2010, the International Atomic Energy Agency launched the “3A’s campaign” as an effective tool for primary cancer prevention. In 2011, the American Association of Physicists in Medicine recommended the size specific dose estimate (SSDE). Objectives: To audit doses of Coronary CT Angiography (Coronary CTA) in tertiary care referral center. Methods: We reviewed 998 consecutive Coronary CTA (from 2007 to 2012). Doses (CTDIvol mGy), DLP (mGy*cm), effective dose (DLP*0.014, mSv) were on-line archived. SSDE was estimated retrospectively. Appropriateness score was evaluated for exams performed from the 2010. Results: Overall median dose per Coronary CTA was 49.7 mGy for CTDIvol, 55.5 mGy for SSDE, 994.96 mGy*cm for DLP, 13.9 mSv for effective dose. Median DLP decreased over time (1452.94 in 2007, 1605.56 in 2008, 1113.49 in 2009, 759.99 in 2010, 448.61 in 2011 and 497.88 mGy*cm in 2012, p < 0.0001). SSDE was proportional to the size dependent factor (SDF);in patients with SDF > 1 (88%) CTDIvol underestimated SSDE (48.49 vs 57.19 mGy), whilst in patients with SDF < 1 (12%) CTDIvol overestimated SSDE (56.46 vs 50.3 mGy). Scans were appropriate in 58%, uncertain in 24%, and inappropriate in 18% of cases. Doses were similar in appropriate, uncertain or inappropriate examinations and in excellent-to-good (81%) vs. sufficient-to-poor (19%) image quality exams. Conclusions: Coronary CTA reference doses can be very misleading. SSDE can allow individual technique optimization. The dose is similar in appropriate and inappropriate examinations, and unrelated to image quality. The rate of inappropriate examinations is still too high even after dissemination of guidelines.展开更多
Objectives To compare the different patterns of coronary artery calcification (CAC) in acute and chronic coronary syndromes utilizing electron beam computed tomography. Background Pathologic, angiographic, and intraco...Objectives To compare the different patterns of coronary artery calcification (CAC) in acute and chronic coronary syndromes utilizing electron beam computed tomography. Background Pathologic, angiographic, and intracoronary ultrasound studies revealed sharp differences in the plaque morphology between patients with acute versus chronic coronary syndromes. Whether there are different patterns of coronary artery calcification in patients with stable angina pectoris (SAP) and in those with unstable angina pectoris (UAP) or acute myocardial infarction (AMI), however, remains unclear. Methods Two hundred and sixty - four patients, including 67 with SAP, 94 with UAP and 103 with AMI were studied with electron beam computed tomography for analysis of coronary artery calcification and with selective coronary angiography for determination of atherosclerotic lesions. CAC prevalence and calcium score were compared among three groups, and relation of CAC to the severity of atherosclerotic disease in the SAP and UAP patients was separately analyzed. Results Prevalence of CAC was 100 % in the SAP patients, significantly higher than the 87. 23 % in UAP patients and 86. 41 % among the patients with AMI ( P < 0. 05) . More patients and arteries in the SAP group had severe forms of calcium than those in the UAP and AMI group ( P < 0. 01), and the mean LN [CS + 1] (natural logarithm transformation of calcium score) of the SAP patients was much greater than that of the UAP and AMI patients (P < 0.001). The distribution of vessels with various CAC by luminal stenosis was different between SAP and UAP patients. The average CAC extent of the infarct - related arteries was less severe than that of the noninfarct - related arteries. Conclusions U-tilizing electron beam computed tomography, we demonstrated that there exist different patterns of coronary artery calcification in patients with acute versus chronic coronary syndromes, which may provide insight into the differences observed in the clinical and pathologic development between these two types of coronary artery disease.展开更多
文摘Background: In 2010, the International Atomic Energy Agency launched the “3A’s campaign” as an effective tool for primary cancer prevention. In 2011, the American Association of Physicists in Medicine recommended the size specific dose estimate (SSDE). Objectives: To audit doses of Coronary CT Angiography (Coronary CTA) in tertiary care referral center. Methods: We reviewed 998 consecutive Coronary CTA (from 2007 to 2012). Doses (CTDIvol mGy), DLP (mGy*cm), effective dose (DLP*0.014, mSv) were on-line archived. SSDE was estimated retrospectively. Appropriateness score was evaluated for exams performed from the 2010. Results: Overall median dose per Coronary CTA was 49.7 mGy for CTDIvol, 55.5 mGy for SSDE, 994.96 mGy*cm for DLP, 13.9 mSv for effective dose. Median DLP decreased over time (1452.94 in 2007, 1605.56 in 2008, 1113.49 in 2009, 759.99 in 2010, 448.61 in 2011 and 497.88 mGy*cm in 2012, p < 0.0001). SSDE was proportional to the size dependent factor (SDF);in patients with SDF > 1 (88%) CTDIvol underestimated SSDE (48.49 vs 57.19 mGy), whilst in patients with SDF < 1 (12%) CTDIvol overestimated SSDE (56.46 vs 50.3 mGy). Scans were appropriate in 58%, uncertain in 24%, and inappropriate in 18% of cases. Doses were similar in appropriate, uncertain or inappropriate examinations and in excellent-to-good (81%) vs. sufficient-to-poor (19%) image quality exams. Conclusions: Coronary CTA reference doses can be very misleading. SSDE can allow individual technique optimization. The dose is similar in appropriate and inappropriate examinations, and unrelated to image quality. The rate of inappropriate examinations is still too high even after dissemination of guidelines.
文摘Objectives To compare the different patterns of coronary artery calcification (CAC) in acute and chronic coronary syndromes utilizing electron beam computed tomography. Background Pathologic, angiographic, and intracoronary ultrasound studies revealed sharp differences in the plaque morphology between patients with acute versus chronic coronary syndromes. Whether there are different patterns of coronary artery calcification in patients with stable angina pectoris (SAP) and in those with unstable angina pectoris (UAP) or acute myocardial infarction (AMI), however, remains unclear. Methods Two hundred and sixty - four patients, including 67 with SAP, 94 with UAP and 103 with AMI were studied with electron beam computed tomography for analysis of coronary artery calcification and with selective coronary angiography for determination of atherosclerotic lesions. CAC prevalence and calcium score were compared among three groups, and relation of CAC to the severity of atherosclerotic disease in the SAP and UAP patients was separately analyzed. Results Prevalence of CAC was 100 % in the SAP patients, significantly higher than the 87. 23 % in UAP patients and 86. 41 % among the patients with AMI ( P < 0. 05) . More patients and arteries in the SAP group had severe forms of calcium than those in the UAP and AMI group ( P < 0. 01), and the mean LN [CS + 1] (natural logarithm transformation of calcium score) of the SAP patients was much greater than that of the UAP and AMI patients (P < 0.001). The distribution of vessels with various CAC by luminal stenosis was different between SAP and UAP patients. The average CAC extent of the infarct - related arteries was less severe than that of the noninfarct - related arteries. Conclusions U-tilizing electron beam computed tomography, we demonstrated that there exist different patterns of coronary artery calcification in patients with acute versus chronic coronary syndromes, which may provide insight into the differences observed in the clinical and pathologic development between these two types of coronary artery disease.
