Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine the cardiac phase having the highest coronary sharpness for low and high heart rate patients scanned with dual source CT (DSCT) and to compare coronary image sharpness over different cardiac phases. DSCT coronary CT scans for 30 low heart rate (≤70 beats per minute- bpm) and 30 high heart rate (>70 bpm) patients were reconstructed into different cardiac phases, starting at 30% and increasing at 5% increments until 70%. A blinded observer graded image sharpness per coronary segment, from which sharpness scores were produced for the right (RCA), left main (LM), left anterior descending (LAD), and circumflex (Cx) coronary arteries. For each coronary artery, the phase with maximal image sharpness was identified with repeated measures analysis of variance. Comparison of coronary sharpness between low and high heart rate patients was made using generalized estimating equations. For low heart rates the highest sharpness scores for all four vessels (RCA, LM, LAD, and Cx) were at the 65 or 70% phase, which are end-diastolic cardiac phases. For high heart rates the highest sharpness scores were between the 35 and 45% phases, which are end-systolic phases. Low heart rate patients had higher coronary sharpness at most cardiac phases; however, patients with high heart rates had higher coronary sharpness in the 45% phase for all four vessels (P < 0.0001). Using DSCT scanning, optimal image sharpness is obtained in end-diastole at low heart rates and in end-systole in high heart rates.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Flohr TG, McCollough CH, Bruder H, Petersilka M, Gruber K, Suss C, Grasruck M, Stierstorfer K, Krauss B, Raupach R, Primak AN, Kuttner A, Achenbach S, Becker C, Kopp A, Ohnesorge BM (2006) First performance evaluation of a dual-source CT (DSCT) system. Eur Radiol 16(2):256–268
Heuschmid M, Burgstahler C, Reimann A, Brodoefel H, Mysal I, Haeberle E, Tsiflikas I, Claussen CD, Kopp AF, Schroeder S (2007) Usefulness of noninvasive cardiac imaging using dual-source computed tomography in an unselected population with high prevalence of coronary artery disease. Am J Cardiol 100(4):587–592
Weustink AC, Meijboom WB, Mollet NR, Otsuka M, Pugliese F, van Mieghem C, Malago R, van Pelt N, Dijkshoorn ML, Cademartiri F, Krestin GP, de Feyter PJ (2007) Reliable high-speed coronary computed tomography in symptomatic patients. J Am Coll Cardiol 50(8):786–794
Seifarth H, Wienbeck S, Pusken M, Juergens KU, Maintz D, Vahlhaus C, Heindel W, Fischbach R (2007) Optimal systolic and diastolic reconstruction windows for coronary CT angiography using dual-source CT. AJR Am J Roentgenol 189(6):1317–1323
Weustink AC, Mollet NR, Pugliese F, Meijboom WB, Nieman K, Heijenbrok-Kal MH, Flohr TG, Neefjes LA, Cademartiri F, de Feyter PJ, Krestin GP (2008) Optimal electrocardiographic pulsing windows and heart rate: effect on image quality and radiation exposure at dual-source coronary CT angiography. Radiology 248(3):792–798
Matt D, Scheffel H, Leschka S, Flohr TG, Marincek B, Kaufmann PA, Alkadhi H (2007) Dual-source CT coronary angiography: image quality, mean heart rate, and heart rate variability. AJR Am J Roentgenol 189(3):567–573
Leschka S, Scheffel H, Desbiolles L, Plass A, Gaemperli O, Valenta I, Husmann L, Flohr TG, Genoni M, Marincek B, Kaufmann PA, Alkadhi H (2007) Image quality and reconstruction intervals of dual-source CT coronary angiography: recommendations for ECG-pulsing windowing. Invest Radiol 42(8):543–549
Austen WG, Edwards JE, Frye RL, Gensini GG, Gott VL, Griffith LS, McGoon DC, Murphy ML, Roe BB (1975) A reporting system on patients evaluated for coronary artery disease. Report of the ad hoc committee for grading of coronary artery disease, council on cardiovascular surgery, American Heart Association. Circulation 51(4 suppl):5–40
Husmann L, Leschka S, Desbiolles L, Schepis T, Gaemperli O, Seifert B, Cattin P, Frauenfelder T, Flohr TG, Marincek B, Kaufmann PA, Alkadhi H (2007) Coronary artery motion and cardiac phases: dependency on heart rate–implications for CT image reconstruction. Radiology 245(2):567–576
Stolzmann P, Scheffel H, Schertler T, Frauenfelder T, Leschka S, Husmann L, Flohr TG, Marincek B, Kaufmann PA, Alkadhi H (2008) Radiation dose estimates in dual-source computed tomography coronary angiography. Eur Radiol 18(3):592–599
Wintersperger BJ, Nikolaou K, von Ziegler F, Johnson T, Rist C, Leber A, Flohr T, Knez A, Reiser MF, Becker CR (2006) Image quality, motion artifacts, and reconstruction timing of 64-slice coronary computed tomography angiography with 0.33-second rotation speed. Invest Radiol 41(5):436–442
Leschka S, Wildermuth S, Boehm T, Desbiolles L, Husmann L, Plass A, Koepfli P, Schepis T, Marincek B, Kaufmann PA, Alkadhi H (2006) Noninvasive coronary angiography with 64-section CT: effect of average heart rate and heart rate variability on image quality. Radiology 241(2):378–385
Leschka S, Husmann L, Desbiolles LM, Gaemperli O, Schepis T, Koepfli P, Boehm T, Marincek B, Kaufmann PA, Alkadhi H (2006) Optimal image reconstruction intervals for non-invasive coronary angiography with 64-slice CT. Eur Radiol 16(9):1964–1972
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Araoz, P.A., Kirsch, J., Primak, A.N. et al. Optimal image reconstruction phase at low and high heart rates in dual-source CT coronary angiography. Int J Cardiovasc Imaging 25, 837–845 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10554-009-9489-3
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10554-009-9489-3