Estimation of Diastolic Filling Pressure with Cardiac CT in Comparison with Echocardiography Using Tissue Doppler Imaging: Determination of Optimal CT Reconstruction Parameters

Incremental role of CT coronary angiography in the assessment of left ventricular diastolic function

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether Computed Tomography (CT) coronary angiography (CTCA) has clinical value for the assessment of left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction (DD) beyond traditional information on coronary artery anatomy.

METHOD

In this retrospective study, a consecutive group of 72 patients (mean age 59±13 years)-who met the eligibility criteria of sinus rhythm, no significant valvular abnormalities, and who had transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE)-were analysed. The CTCA was prospectively triggered during diastole. Outcomes of interest were CTCA derived LV and left atrial (LA) volumes, diastolic expansion (DE) index: LV volume÷LA volume and DE fraction (DEF): [(LV volume-LA volume)÷LV volume]×100. TTE-LA volume was measured as maximum, minimum and pre-A. Studied patients were divided according to the current classification of LVDD as a reference standard. A small subgroup of nine patients underwent further invasive cardiac catheterisation.

RESULTS

CTCA-LV and LA volumes were larger compared with TTE, 37%±20% and 11%±21%, respectively. CTCA-LA volume correlated well with all TTE-LA volumes (maximum: R2=0.58; pre-A wave: R2=0.39; minimum: R2=0.26; p<0.0001) with the smallest differences in maximum LA volume (9±32 mL; mean±2 SD). The DE and DEF correlated with both LA function and LVDD. DE >1.65 and DE <1.40 have good specificity (85% and 88%, respectively), and positive predictive value to differentiate LVDD. DE and DEF were dependent on the patients' age but independent of other variables.

CONCLUSIONS

CTCA derived diastasis volume indices can provide additional quantifiable information on LVDD.

Age of Data in Contemporary Research Articles Published in Representative General Radiology Journals

Objective

To analyze and compare the age of data in contemporary research articles published in representative general radiology journals.

Materials and Methods

We searched for articles reporting original research studies analyzing patient data that were published in the print issues of the Korean Journal of Radiology (KJR), European Radiology (ER), and Radiology in 2017. Eligible articles were reviewed to extract data collection period (time from first patient recruitment to last patient follow-up) and age of data (time between data collection end and publication). The journals were compared in terms of the proportion of articles reporting the data collection period to the level of calendar month and regarding the age of data.

Results

There were 50, 492, and 254 eligible articles in KJR, ER, and Radiology, respectively. Of these, 44 (88%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 75.8-94.8%), 359 (73%; 95% CI: 68.9-76.7%), and 211 (83.1%; 95% CI: 78-87.2%) articles, respectively, provided enough details of data collection period, revealing a significant difference between ER and Radiology (p = 0.002). The age of data was significantly greater in KJR (median age: 826 days; range: 299-2843 days) than in ER (median age: 570 days; range: 56-4742 days; p < 0.001) and Radiology (median age: 618; range: 75-4271 days; p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Korean Journal of Radiology did not fall behind ER or Radiology in reporting of data collection period, but showed a significantly greater age of data than ER and Radiology, suggesting that KJR should take measures to improve the timeliness of its data.