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Computed tomography coronary angiography with a consistent dose below 2 mSv using double prospectively ECG-triggered high-pitch spiral acquisition in patients with atrial fibrillation: initial experience

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Abstract

To evaluate the feasibility and imaging quality of double prospectively ECG-triggered high-pitch spiral acquisition mode (double flash mode) for coronary computed tomography angiography (CTCA) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). 47 patients (11 women, 36 men; mean age 64.5 ± 12.1 years) were enrolled for CTCA examinations using a dual-source CT with 2 × 128 × 0.6 mm collimation, 0.28 s rotation time and a pitch of 3.4. Double flash mode was prospectively triggered first at 60 % and later at 30 % of the R–R interval within two cardiac cycles. Image quality was evaluated using a four-point scale (1 = excellent, 4 = non-assessable). From 672 coronary artery segments, 77.5 % (521/672) was rated as score of 1, 20.8 % (140/672) as score of 2, 1.2 % (8/672) as score of 3 and 0.4 % (3/672) was rated as ‘non-assessable’. The average image quality score was 1.25 ± 0.38 on a per segment basis. Mean dose-length product for CTCA was 92.6 ± 28.2 mGy cm, the effective dose was 1.30 ± 0.39 mSv (0.64–1.97 mSv). In patients with AF, double prospectively ECG-triggered high-pitch spiral acquisition mode could be a feasible and valuable scan mode for CTCA with a consistent dose below 2 mSv as well as diagnostic imaging quality.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Dr. Wang Jing, CT Research Collaboration, Healthcare Sector, Siemens Ltd., China, for her assistance with editing and technical support.

Conflict of interest

None declared.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cardiology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, China

    Qi Wang, Bai He, Yin Zhou, Jun-jie Yang, Xiao-ling Hou, Xiao-bo Yang & Yun-dai Chen

  2. Department of Ultrasound, Chinese Armed Police General Hospital, Beijing, 100039, China

    Jing Qin

  3. CT Research Collaboration, Healthcare Sector, Siemens Ltd., Shanghai, China

    Jiu-hong Chen

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  1. Qi Wang
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  2. Jing Qin
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  3. Bai He
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Correspondence to Yun-dai Chen.

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Wang, Q., Qin, J., He, B. et al. Computed tomography coronary angiography with a consistent dose below 2 mSv using double prospectively ECG-triggered high-pitch spiral acquisition in patients with atrial fibrillation: initial experience. Int J Cardiovasc Imaging 29, 1341–1349 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10554-013-0203-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10554-013-0203-0

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