3D Assessment of myocardial perfusion parameter combined with 3D reconstructed coronary artery tree from digital coronary angiograms

In patients with coronary artery disease coronary angiography plays an important role in the clinical decision-making process. However, it has been recognized that no simple relation exists between the visually or quantitatively evaluated severity of coronary artery stenoses and its effects on regional myocardial perfusion. This paper describes for the first time the development and application of a 3D technique that visualizes and quantifies regional myocardial perfusion parameters from biplane coronary angiograms by using the impulse response analysis technique. The 3D reconstructed coronary tree is automatically superimposed on the 3D perfusion image to generate and visualize an ‘integrated’ 3D image. The preliminary results in patients with critical coronary artery stenoses indicate that our combined 3D fusion image provides flow information from the major coronary arteries. This 3D fusion image may provide useful information in the management of patients with coronary artery disease.     

Combined myocardial stress perfusion imaging and myocardial stress tagging for detection of coronary artery disease at 3 Tesla

Background

Adenosine stress perfusion is very sensitive for detection of coronary artery disease (CAD), and yields good specificity. Standard adenosine cine imaging lacks high sensitivity, but is very specific. Myocardial tagging improves detection of wall motion abnormalities (WMAs). Perfusion and tagging cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) both benefit from high field imaging (improved contrast to noise ratio and tag persistence). We investigated the diagnostic impact of a combined stress perfusion-tagging protocol for detection of CAD at 3 Tesla.

Methods

Stress perfusion and tagging images were acquired in 3 identical short axis locations (slice thickness 8 mm, FOV 320–380 mm, matrix 256²). A positive finding at coronary angiography was defined as stenosis or flow limiting restenosis > 50% in native and graft vessels. A true positive CMR – finding was defined as ≥ 1 perfusion deficit or new WMA during adenosine-stress in angiographically corresponding regions.

Results

We included 60 patients (males: 41, females: 19; 21 suspected, 39 known CAD). Myocardial tagging extended stress imaging by 1.5–3 min and was well tolerated by all patients. Sensitivity and specificity for detection of significant CAD by adenosine stress perfusion were 0.93 and 0.84, respectively. The sensitivity of adenosine stress tagging was less (0.64), while the specificity was very high (1.0). The combination of both stress perfusion and stress tagging did not increase sensitivity.

Conclusion

The combined adenosine stress perfusion-tagging protocol delivers high sensitivity and specificity for detection of significant CAD. While the sensitivity of adenosine stress tagging is poor compared to perfusion imaging, its specificity is very high. This technique should thus prove useful in cases of inconclusive perfusion studies to help avoid false positive results.     

Combined magnetic resonance coronary artery imaging,myocardial perfusion and late gadolinium enhancement in patients with suspected coronary artery disease

Background

Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (CMR) imaging offers methods for the detection of ischemia and myocardial infarction as well as visualization of the coronary arteries (MRCA). However, a direct comparison of adenosine perfusion (PERF), late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) and MRCA or the results of their combination has not been performed. Aim of the study was to evaluate the feasibility/diagnostic performance of rest/stress perfusion, late gadolinium enhancement and MRCA and their combination in patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) in comparison to invasive angiography.

Methods

Fifty-four patients (60 ± 10 years, 35 men, CAD 48%) underwent CMR including MRCA (steady state free precession, navigator whole heart approach, spatial resolution 0.7 × 0.7 × .0.9 mm, trigger delay and temporal resolution adjusted individually), stress PERF (adenosine 140 μg/min/kg), rest PERF (SSFP, 3 short axis, 1 saturation prepulse per slice) and LGE (3D inversion recovery technique) using Gd-BOPTA. Images were analyzed visually. Stenosis >50% in invasive angiography was considered significant.

Results

Mean study time was 68 ± 11 minutes. Sensitivity for PERF, LGE, MRCA and the combination of PERF/LGE and PERF/LGE/MRCA was 87%, 50%, 91%, 88% and 92%, respectively and specificity 88%, 96%, 46%, 88% and 56%, respectively. If image quality of MRCA was excellent (n = 18) the combination of MRCA/PERF/LGE yield a sensitivity of 86% and specificity of 91%. However, no test or combination improved diagnostic performance significantly compared to PERF alone.

Conclusion

In patients with CAD, the combination of stress PERF, LGE and MRCA is feasible. When compared to invasive angiography, adenosine stress perfusion outperforms CMR coronary angiography in direct comparison and yields the best results with non-significant improvement in combination with LGE and significant deterioration in combination with MRCA. MRCA may be of additional value only in a minority of patients with excellent image quality.     

三维斑点追踪技术评价冠状动脉病变严重程度

目的 探讨三维斑点追踪成像（3D-STI）技术评价冠状动脉粥样硬化性心脏病（简称冠心病）患者冠状动脉病变程度的价值。方法 收集103例疑似冠心病患者,参考冠状动脉造影结果,根据冠状动脉Gensini评分,将其分为病变组（n=79）和正常组（Gensini评分0分,n=24）,病变组又分为轻度（Gensini评分<25分,n=40）、中度（Gensini评分25~50分,n=26）和重度（Gensini评分>50分,n=13）3个亚组。应用3D-STI技术获得左心室三维整体纵向应变（3D-GLS）、三维整体周向应变（3D-GCS）、三维整体面积应变（3D-GAS）和三维整体径向应变（3D-GRS）,比较2组间和3个亚组间的差异。绘制ROC曲线,评价3D-STI参数评价冠状动脉正常或轻度病变（Gensini评分<25分）与中重度病变（Gensini评分≥25分）的效能。结果 病变组3D-GLS、3D-GCS、3D-GAS及3D-GRS均低于正常组（P均<0.05）。病变组内轻度、中度与重度亚组间各应变参数总体差异均有统计学意义（P均<0.05）。ROC曲线结果显示,AUC由大到小依次为3D-GLS（0.929）、3D-GCS（0.873）、3D-GRS（0.853）和3D-GAS（0.819）。结论 3D-STI技术用于评价冠心病患者冠状动脉病变严重程度具有一定价值。     

Hybrid image visualization tool for 3D integration of CT coronary anatomy and quantitative myocardial perfusion PET

Purpose

Multimodal cardiac imaging by CTA and quantitative PET enables acquisition of patient-specific coronary anatomy and absolute myocardial perfusion at rest and during stress. In the clinical setting, integration of this information is performed visually or using coronary arteries distribution models. We developed a new tool for CTA and quantitative PET integrated 3D visualization, exploiting XML and DICOM clinical standards.

Methods

The hybrid image tool (HIT) developed in the present study included four main modules: (1) volumetric registration for spatial matching of CTA and PET data sets, (2) an interface to PET quantitative analysis software, (3) a derived DICOM generator able to build DICOM data set from quantitative polar maps, and (4) a 3D visualization tool of integrated anatomical and quantitative flow information. The four modules incorporated in the HIT tool communicate by defined standard XML files: XML-transformation and XML MIST standards.

Results

The HIT tool implements a 3D representation of CTA showing real coronary anatomy fused to PET-derived quantitative myocardial blood flow distribution. The technique was validated on 16 data sets from EVINCI study population. The validation of the method confirmed the high matching between “original” and derived data sets as well as the accuracy of the registration procedure.

Conclusions

Three-dimensional integration of patient- specific coronary artery anatomy provided by CTA and quantitative myocardial blood flow obtained from PET imaging can improve cardiac disease assessment. The HIT tool introduced in this paper may represent a significant advancement in the clinical use of this multimodal approach.     

Diabetes and coronary artery disease: the role of stress myocardial perfusion imaging

Stress myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) has the potential not only to improve clinical outcomes in diabetic patients, but also to decrease unnecessary use of health care resources. However, before routine screening can be recommended, cost-effectiveness analyses are required to identify patients in whom such testing is appropriate. Nevertheless, MPI is clearly emerging as a valuable tool for improving management of coronary artery disease in all patients with diabetes mellitus.     

冠状动脉CTA联合CT心肌灌注成像诊断冠心病：Meta分析

目的 采用Meta分析评估冠状动脉CT血管成像（CCTA）联合心肌CT灌注成像（CTP）诊断冠心病的价值。方法 检索PubMed、Wed of Science、Cochrane Library、中文学术期刊数据库（CNKI）及万方数据库自建库以来至2016年12月、国内外公开发表的、关于CCTA联合心肌CTP诊断冠心病的中英文文献。按照诊断试验标准筛选文献,采用诊断准确性研究的质量评价工具-2（QADAS-2）评分标准进行质量评价,采用Meta-disc 1.4软件分析合并效应量并绘制汇总受试者工作特征（SROC）曲线,计算曲线下面积（AUC）。结果 共纳入5篇文献,共611支冠状动脉,在血管水平CCTA联合CTP合并敏感度、特异度、诊断比值比、阳性似然比、阴性似然比及各自的95%可信区间分别为0.96（0.92,0.98）、0.91（0.88,0.94）、206.14（100,424.94）、9.33（5.57,15.61）、0.06（0.03,0.13）;SROC曲线的AUC为0.977。结论 冠状动脉CTA联合心肌CTP对冠心病具有较高的诊断价值。     

ATP负荷MR心肌灌注成像对冠心病心肌缺血诊断的临床应用研究

目的 研究ATP负荷MR心肌灌注成像对冠心病心肌缺血诊断的临床应用价值。方法将临床通过DSA冠脉造影诊断为冠心病患者30例，无症状健康志愿者5例，进行ATP负荷MR心肌灌注成像，ATP负荷MR心肌灌注成像应用真正快速稳态梯度回波序列（fast imaging employ steady state quisition，FIESTA）用于观察心肌的运动，快速梯度回波序列（fastcard gradient echo train，FGRE ET）用于心肌灌注首过时相MPd图像采集。反转恢复梯度回波序列（myocardial delay enhancement，MDE）用于完成心肌灌注延迟30分钟后MRI图像采集。应用GE AW4．0工作站DCEMI（Dynamic Contrast Enhanced Myocardial Imaging）心肌灌注图像分析软件，对左心室短轴心肌灌注首过时相图像进行分析，得到心肌灌注时间—信号强度曲线，观察曲线的上升斜率和信号强度的峰值。根据Brandt等描述的左心室短轴位与冠状动脉血管分布的对应关系，确定存在狭窄的冠状动脉血管。冠脉造影使用日本岛津公司DAR1200双C臂DSA机，以冠状动脉管径≤50％作为有临床意义的狭窄的诊断标准。结果 通过ATP负荷MR心肌灌注成像测定心肌低灌注区信号强度以及时间-信号强度曲线上升斜率可以判定心肌缺血区域，判定结果与冠脉造影结果比较，其中25例结果一致，5例结果不一致，符合率为83％。结论 ATP负荷MR心肌灌注成像通过测定心肌信号强度以及时间—信号强度曲线上升斜率量化指标，对于冠心病心肌缺血诊断结果与DSA冠脉造影检查结果具有高度的一致性，ATP负荷MR心肌灌注成像是一种无创性的测定心肌的血流的检查方法，通过这种无创性综合的检测技术可以为临床提供有价值的信息，为临床诊断及恰当治疗提供可靠的依据。     

Interactive visualization of multiresolution image stacks in 3D

Conventional microscopy, electron microscopy, and imaging techniques such as MRI and PET commonly generate large stacks of images of the sectioned brain. In other domains, such as neurophysiology, variables such as space or time are also varied along a stack axis. Digital image sizes have been progressively increasing and in virtual microscopy, it is now common to work with individual image sizes that are several hundred megapixels and several gigabytes in size. The interactive visualization of these high-resolution, multiresolution images in 2D has been addressed previously [Sullivan, G., and Baker, R., 1994. Efficient quad-tree coding of images and video. IEEE Trans. Image Process. 3 (3), 327-331]. Here, we describe a method for interactive visualization of multiresolution image stacks in 3D. The method, characterized as quad-tree based multiresolution image stack interactive visualization using a texel projection based criterion, relies on accessing and projecting image tiles from multiresolution image stacks in such a way that, from the observer's perspective, image tiles all appear approximately the same size even though they are accessed from different tiers within the images comprising the stack. This method enables efficient navigation of high-resolution image stacks. We implement this method in a program called StackVis, which is a Windows-based, interactive 3D multiresolution image stack visualization system written in C++ and using OpenGL. It is freely available at http://brainmaps.org.     

心肌桥-壁冠状动脉的影像学价值比较

心肌桥(myocardial bridge,MB)指在冠状动脉发育过程中,原始小梁动脉网外移失败,动脉某一节段被浅层心肌覆盖,覆盖该段动脉的心肌纤维则称为心肌桥,而被肌桥覆盖的血管则称为壁冠状动脉     

Thallium-201 myocardial imaging in patients with coronary artery disease: comparison of intravenous adenosine and oral dipyridamole.

OBJECTIVE: To compare thallium-201 (201Tl) myocardial perfusion imaging following intravenous adenosine and oral dipyridamole. DESIGN: Open-label, randomized, comparison. SETTING: Outpatient, university-affiliated clinic. PATIENTS: Fifteen patients with angiographically documented coronary artery disease. INTERVENTIONS: Planar 201Tl myocardial perfusion imaging following both intravenous adenosine 140 micrograms/kg/min for six minutes and oral dipyridamole suspension 300 mg. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: A comparison between adenosine and dipyridamole was made in the following areas: concordance in interpretation of 201Tl scintigrams, cardiac and noncardiac 201Tl uptake and clearance, hemodynamic and electrocardiographic changes, and adverse effects. RESULTS: The scintigraphic studies showed perfusion defects in 13 patients (87 percent) after dipyridamole and in 15 patients (100 percent) after adenosine. 201Tl uptake and clearance were quantitated in nine myocardial segments and in four extracardiac segments in each patient. 201Tl uptake was not significantly different between adenosine and dipyridamole studies in most cardiac regions. Extracardiac 201Tl uptake was significantly less in the liver and splanchnic regions following adenosine compared with dipyridamole. 201Tl clearance was not significantly different following adenosine and dipyridamole except in the anterolateral region in the anterior view. Hemodynamic changes following administration of intravenous adenosine and oral dipyridamole were not significantly different. Adverse effects were more common with adenosine than with dipyridamole. Adverse effects with adenosine were transient; however, adverse effects with dipyridamole were prolonged and required reversal with aminophylline in 2 patients. No patients required termination of the adenosine infusion or administration of aminophylline. CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary data suggest that adenosine 201Tl imaging may be a useful alternative to dipyridamole 201Tl imaging. Although adenosine produces more frequent adverse effects, they are generally better tolerated than those associated with dipyridamole.     

Intraoperative application of power Doppler imaging: visualization of myocardial perfusion after anastomosis of left internal thoracic artery to left anterior descending coronary artery.

The purpose of this study was to determine the role of power Doppler imaging in assessing patency of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) anastomosis. Twelve consecutive patients referred for CABG with the use of anastomosis of the internal thoracic artery to the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) were studied. A linear 6.5-MHz wide-band transducer was used during cardioplegic administration and reperfusion. Baseline power Doppler signals were obtained in the LAD in 11 patients, and post-CABG signals were obtained in 11 patients. In one patient the LAD was poorly visualized because of extensive calcification. In another patient the flow after bypass worsened and the graft was revised. Visualization of the LAD and internal thoracic artery grafts by epicardial intraoperative power Doppler imaging is feasible in almost all patients and allows rapid and simple intraoperative assessment of graft patency. In addition, myocardial perfusion is limited by heavily calcified coronaries.     

SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging identifies myocardial ischemia in patients with a history of COVID-19 without coronary artery disease

The International Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging - We aimed to examine the effect of a history of COVID-19 on myocardial ischemia in single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) myocardial...     

多巴酚丁胺负荷组织速度成像与心肌SPECT诊断老年冠心病的对比观察

目的 以CAG为金标准,与ATP负荷^99mTc-MIBI心肌SPECT对比,探讨多巴酚丁胺负荷定量组织速度成像(DSE+QTVI)诊断老年冠心病的临床价值。 方法 98例入选者接受DSE+QTVI,其中40例接受ATP负荷SPECT检查,并均在2周内接受CAG。在DSE+QTVI检查过程中测定不同多巴酚丁胺负荷剂量时各室壁中段收缩期心肌运动峰值速度(Vpeak)。 结果 Vpeak在多巴酚丁胺20 μg/(kg·min)负荷量时其诊断老年冠心病的敏感度和特异度最高,分别为80.43%、81.58%;在多巴酚丁胺40 μg/(kg·min)负荷剂量时,敏感度和特异度最低,分别为52.94%、69.57%。与ATP负荷SPECT相比,Vpeak诊断老年冠心病的敏感度、特异度略低。 结论 DSE+QTVI诊断老年冠心病是安全、有效、无创的方法。     

组织追踪成像评价冠心病患者心肌收缩期后收缩的特征

目的:采用组织追踪成像(tissue tracking imaging,TTI)评价冠状动脉(冠脉)疾病患者心肌收缩期后收缩(post-systolic shortening,PSS)的特征。方法:选取54例因胸痛住院行冠脉造影的患者,术前3 d接受TTI检查,并根据其冠脉造影结果分为对照组(28例)和冠脉狭窄组(26例)。PSS指标包括收缩期后位移(postsystolic displacement,Dpss)、收缩期后位移指数(post systolic displacement index,PSI)及PSS检出率。结果 :对照组和冠脉狭窄组患者的PSS检出率分别为19.5%和32.5%(P<0.05),冠脉狭窄组的Dpss和PSI平均值显著高于对照组(P均0.23为截点值,即24个节段中有≥6个节段检出PSS时,TTI预测冠脉狭窄的灵敏度为73.1%,特异度为71.4%。结论:TTI检查对于冠脉狭窄患者的PSS检出率较高,且PSS波峰较高大。TTI检查能显示PSS的特征,帮助诊断冠脉疾病。     

心脏磁共振心肌灌注成像在冠心病患者冠状动脉病变及微循环梗阻中的临床应用价值

目的  探讨心脏磁共振（CMR）心肌灌注成像在冠心病冠状动脉病变及微循环梗阻（MVO）中的临床应用价值。方法  选取2020年1月~2022年12月我院收治的106例冠心病患者,均在经皮冠状动脉介入治疗前和治疗后行CMR心肌灌注成像。以冠状动脉造影诊断结果为金标准,对比经皮冠状动脉介入治疗前CMR心肌灌注成像中延迟强化透壁局部室壁异常运动及病变区与正常心肌区CMR心肌灌注成像参数。分析CMR心肌灌注成像对冠心病冠状动脉病变的诊断效能。经皮冠状动脉介入治疗后根据患者是否存在MVO将其分为MVO组（n=29）和无MVO组（n=77）,对比两组CMR心肌灌注成像参数,并采用ROC曲线分析CMR心肌灌注成像参数对MVO的诊断价值。结果  106例患者中的1802个心肌节段被纳入评价。CMR心肌灌注成像显示106例患者共有147个延迟强化的心肌节段（每个患者至少有1个心肌节段延迟强化）,其中68个透壁强化,79个非透壁强化。病变心肌首过灌注时间、首过灌注最大上升斜率（Slope_max）、心肌延迟强化信号值与正常心肌间对比有统计学差异（P < 0.05）。以冠状动脉造影结果为金标准,CMR心肌灌注成像对左前降支、右冠状动脉、左回旋支病变的诊断敏感度分别为94.12%、88.64%、88.89%,特异性分别为95.00%、96.55%、94.74%,准确度分别为94.66%、93.89%、93.13%。经皮冠状动脉介入治疗后有MVO者29例,无MVO者77例。MVO组中首过灌注时间、Slope_max、心肌延迟强化信号值与无MVO组的差异有统计学意义（P < 0.05）。ROC曲线显示,CMR心肌灌注成像参数中首过灌注时间、Slope_max、心肌延迟强化信号值对冠心病患者MVO诊断的曲线下面积分别为0.803、0.718、0.851,敏感度分别为82.76%、72.41%、86.21%,特异性分别为66.23%、68.83%、67.53%,准确度分别为70.75%、69.81%、72.64%。结论  CMR心肌灌注成像可显示冠心病心血管病变区域的变化,对诊断冠心病冠状动脉病变及MVO情况有较高的诊断价值。