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High Risk Plaque Features on Coronary CT Angiography

  • Cardiac Computed Tomography (S Achenbach and T Villines, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Cardiovascular Imaging Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is a non-invasive imaging technique that can detect, characterize and quantify coronary atherosclerotic plaques in routine clinical settings. The distinct morphological features of vulnerable plaques and stable lesions provide an opportunity for CCTA to identify high-risk plaque features and guide stratified therapeutic interventions. Morphological plaque characteristics, such as large plaque volume, positive remodelling, low CT attenuation, spotty calcification and the napkin-ring sign have been linked to elevated risk of acute coronary syndrome. Recent advances in computational fluid dynamics enabled functional plaque assessment through endothelial shear stress and lesion specific fractional flow reserve calculation. The comprehensive, morphological and functional plaque assessment may improve the identification of vulnerable coronary lesions.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Rolf Raaijmakers for the images processed with model based iterative reconstruction. This work was supported by the European Union and the State of Hungary, co-financed by the European Social Fund in the framework of TÁMOP 4.2.4. A/1-11-1-2012-0001 ‘National Excellence Program’.

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Conflict of Interest

Andrea Bartykowszki, Csilla Celeng, Mihály Károlyi, and Pál Maurovich-Horvat declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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  1. MTA-SE Lendület Cardiovascular Imaging Research Group, Heart and Vascular Center, Semmelweis University, 68 Varosmajor ut, 1122, Budapest, Hungary

    Andrea Bartykowszki, Csilla Celeng, Mihály Károlyi & Pál Maurovich-Horvat

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  1. Andrea Bartykowszki
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  3. Mihály Károlyi
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  4. Pál Maurovich-Horvat
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Correspondence to Pál Maurovich-Horvat.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Cardiac Computed Tomography

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Bartykowszki, A., Celeng, C., Károlyi, M. et al. High Risk Plaque Features on Coronary CT Angiography. Curr Cardiovasc Imaging Rep 7, 9279 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12410-014-9279-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12410-014-9279-8

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