Coronary bifurcation stent morphology in dual-source CT: validation with micro-CT

Assessment of Nit-Occlud atrial septal defect occluder device healing process using micro-computed tomography imaging

After percutaneous implantation of a cardiac occluder, a complex healing process leads to the device coverage within several months. An incomplete device coverage increases the risk of device related complications such as thrombosis or endocarditis. We aimed to assess the device coverage process of atrial septal defect (ASD) occluders in a chronic sheep model using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT). After percutaneous creation of an ASD, 8 ewes were implanted with a 16-mm Nit-Occlud ASD-R occluder (PFM medical, Cologne, Germany) and were followed for 1 month (N = 3) and 3 months (N = 5). After heart explant, the device coverage was assessed using micro-CT (resolution of 41.7 μm) and was compared to histological analysis. The micro-CT image reconstruction was performed in 2D and 3D allowing measurement of the coverage thickness and surface for each device. Macroscopic assessment of devices showed that the coverage was complete for the left-side disk in all cases. Yet incomplete coverage of the right-side disk was observed in 5 of the 8 cases. 2D and 3D micro-CT analysis allowed an accurate evaluation of device coverage of each disk and was overall well correlated to histology sections. Surface calculation from micro-CT images of the 8 cases showed that the median surface of coverage was 93±8% for the left-side disk and 55±31% for the right-side disk. The assessment of tissue reactions, including endothelialisation, after implantation of an ASD occluder can rely on in vitro micro-CT analysis. The translation to clinical practice is challenging but the potential for individual follow-up is shown, to avoid thrombotic or infective complications.

Current clinical applications and potential perspective of micro-computed tomography in cardiovascular imaging: A systematic scoping review

Micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) constitutes an emerging imaging technique, which can be utilized in cardiovascular medicine to study in-detail the microstructure of heart and vessels. This paper aims to systematically review the clinical utility of micro-CT in cardiovascular imaging and propose future applications of micro-CT imaging in cardiovascular research. A systematic scoping review was conducted by searching for original studies written in English according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) extension for scoping reviews. Medline, Scopus, ClinicalTrials.gov, and the Cochrane library were systematically searched through December 11, 2020 to identify publications concerning micro-CT applications in cardiovascular imaging. Preclinical-animal studies and case reports were excluded. The Newcastle-Ottawa assessment scale for observational studies was used to evaluate study quality. In total, the search strategy identified 30 studies that report on micro-CT-based cardiovascular imaging and satisfy our eligibility criteria. Across all included studies, the total number of micro-CT scanned specimens was 1,227. Six studies involved postmortem 3D-reconstruction of congenital heart defects, while eleven studies described atherosclerotic vessel (coronary or carotid) characteristics. Thirteen other studies employed micro-CT for the assessment of medical devices (mainly stents or prosthetic valves). In conclusion, micro-CT is a novel imaging modality, effectively adapted for the 3D visualization and analysis of cardiac soft tissues and devices at high spatial resolution. Its increasing use could make significant contributions to our improved understanding of the histopathophysiology of cardiovascular diseases, and, thus, has the potential to optimize interventional procedures and technologies, and ultimately improve patient outcomes.