Evaluation of transluminal attenuation gradient in computed tomography in intact coronary arteries

Ternovoy S.K., Veselova T.N., Shabanova M.S., Chepovskiy A.M.

Purpose. Determination of transluminal attenuation gradient (TAG) in intact coronary arteries.

Materials and methods. CT angiography (CTA) was performed on 12 patients aged 55.2 ± 12.3 years, with excluded coronary artery disease (320-CT-scanner, Aquilion ONE Vision Edition, Toshiba, Japan). Values of TAG were calculated automatically using dedicated program.

Results. Аverage value of TAG for all arteries was -11.5 ± 8.2 HU / 10 mm. TAG values were lower than reference index (-15 HU / 10 mm) in 7 of 12 patients (58.3%), and in analysis by arteries - in 11 of 31 arteries (35.5%). Average value of TAG for LAD, RCA and LCX was -15.6 ± 7.2 HU / 10mm (from -29.0 to 6.4 HU / 10mm), -5.0 ± 5.0 HU / 10mm (from 26.1 to 6 HU / 10mm) and -14.4 ± 5.0 HU / 10mm (from -22.4 to -4.6 HU / 10mm), respectively.

Reference TAG value - less than -15 HU / 10mm cannot be used to distinguish functionally significant from insignificant stenoses. Possibilities of TAG for detecting hemodynamic significant stenoses are limited.

Conclusion. Values of TAG in healthy individuals are extremely different (from -29.0 to +6.4 HU / 10mm) and in 35.5% of cases below the proposed reference value (<-15 HU / 10mm). Low values of TAG (<-15 HU / 10mm) are more often detected in LAD and LCX, than in RCA. TAG values may be affected by certain parameters, that require adding more data to the calculated mathematical model.

1 - Federal State Budgetary Organization National Cardiology Research Center of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation.

2 - I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of Russian Federation.

3 - National Research University “Higher School of Economics”.

Moscow, Russia.

 

 

Keywords: transluminal attenuation gradient, coronary artery, functional significance of stenosis, computed tomography


Corresponding author:  Veselova T.N., Этот e-mail адрес защищен от спам-ботов, для его просмотра у Вас должен быть включен Javascript

 

For citation: Ternovoy S.K., Veselova T.N., Shabanova M.S., Chepovskiy A.M. Evaluation of transluminal attenuation gradient in computed tomography in intact coronary arteries. REJR 2019; 9(3):58-64. DOI:10.21569/2222-7415-2019-9-3-58-64.

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Received:        05.09.19 Accepted:       27.09.19