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Purpose: The aim of this study was to correlate left main (LM) coronary artery dimensions with the presence of atherosclerosis by multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT) coronary angiography (CA) and to assess coronary atherosclerotic plaques with a semiquantitative method., Materials and Methods: Sixty-two consecutive patients (41 men, mean age 60+/-11) with suspected coronary artery disease underwent 64-MDCT coronary angiography. LM dimensions (length, ostial and bifurcation diameters), quantitative [location, Hounsfield unit (HU) attenuation] and qualitative (composition, shape) analysis of plaques within the LM were performed. All patients underwent conventional CA., Results: Thirty patients (mean age 55+/-10) without plaques in the LM presented the following average dimensions: length 10.6+/-6.1 mm, ostial diameter 5.5+/-0.7 mm, bifurcation diameter 4.9+/-0.9 mm. LM plaques (n=36) were detected in 32 patients (mean age 64+/-10) with the following LM average dimensions: length 11.3+/-4.0 mm, ostial diameter 6.0+/-1.2 mm and bifurcation diameter 6.0+/-1.2 mm. Plaques were calcified (40%, mean attenuation 742+/-191 HU), mixed (43%, mean attenuation 387+/-94 HU) or noncalcified (17%, mean attenuation 56+/-14 HU) and were frequently eccentric (77%). Age was significantly different in the two groups (p<0.05). LM diameters of patients with plaques were improved (p<0.05). A moderate correlation was found between the LM bifurcation diameter and the corresponding plaque area (r=0.56). Significant conventional CA lesions of the LM were present in just three patients (5%)., Conclusions: Increased LM diameters are associated with the presence of atherosclerosis. MDCT CA indicates relevant features of LM atherosclerotic burden, as rupture and subsequent thrombosis of vulnerable plaques may develop from lesions characterised as nonsignificant at conventional CA.

Purpose: The aim of our study was to assess the influence of heart rate on the selection of the optimal reconstruction window with 40-slice multidetector-row computed tomography (40-MDCT) coronary angiography., Materials and Methods: We studied 170 patients (114 men, age 60+/-11.3 years) with suspected or known coronary artery disease with 40-MDCT coronary angiography. Patients [mean heart rate (HR) 62.9+/-9.3 bpm, range 42-94 bpm] were clustered in two groups (group A: HR 65 bpm). Multiphase reconstruction data sets were obtained with a retrospective electrocardiogram (ECG)-gated 40-MDCT coronary angiography scan from 0% to 95% every 5% of the R-R interval. Two radiologists in consensus evaluated the best data sets for diagnostic purposes., Results: In group A, the optimal reconstruction windows were at 70% (55/110, 71/110 and 69/110 for the right coronary artery, left anterior descending and the left circumflex, respectively) and 75% (26/110, 28/110 and 28/110, respectively) of the R-R interval. In group B, a wide range of reconstruction windows were employed, both in the end-systolic phase at 40% (32/60, 18/60 and 17/60, for the right coronary artery, left anterior descending and circumflex, respectively) and diastolic phases at 70% (12/60, 22/60 and 19/60, respectively). Six scans were excluded due to severe respiratory artefacts., Conclusions: Optimal position of the image reconstruction window relative to the cardiac cycle is significantly influenced by the heart rate during scanning. Diastolic reconstruction phases often allowed an optimal assessment in group A. Reconstruction phases from 30% to 45% are advisable for higher heart rates.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of the noncardiac collateral findings during multislice computed tomography coronary angiography (MSCT-CA)., Materials and Methods: Six hundred and seventy patients undergoing MSCT-CA with 16-slice and 64-slice CT scanners for suspected atherosclerotic disease of the coronary arteries were retrospectively reviewed. All data sets obtained with a large field of view (FOV) were analysed by two radiologists using standard mediastinal and lung window settings. Collateral findings were divided according to clinical importance into nonsignificant, remarkable and compulsory to be investigated., Results: Eighty-five percent of patients revealed coronary artery disease (CAD). Only 138/670 (20.6%) were without any additional finding. An additional 1,234 findings were recorded: nonsignificant 332 (26.9%), mild 821 (66.53%), compulsory for study 81 (6.56%). A total of 81 patients (12.08%) had significant noncardiac pathology requiring clinical or radiological follow-up. Among these, newly discovered pathologies were revealed in two patients (2.46%)., Conclusions: A significant number of noncardiac findings might have been missed in MSCT-CA scans; the appropriate approach should be as a team trained in cardiology and radiology.

Purpose: Our aim was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of 64-slice computed tomography coronary angiography (MSCT-CA) for detecting significant stenosis (>or=50% lumen reduction) in a population of patients at low to intermediate risk., Materials and Methods: We studied 72 patients (38 men, 34 women, mean age 53.9+/-8.0 years) with atypical or typical chest pain and stratified in the low-to intermediate risk category. MSCT-CA (Sensation 64 Cardiac, Siemens, Germany) was performed after IV administration of 100 ml of iodinated contrast material (Iomeprol 400 mgI/ml, Bracco, Italy). Two observers, blinded to the results of conventional coronary angiography (CAG), assessed the MSCT-CA scans in consensus. Diagnostic accuracy for detecting significant stenosis was calculated., Results: CAG demonstrated the absence of significant disease in 70.1% of patients (51/72). No patient was excluded from MSCT-CA. There were 37 significant lesions on 1,098 available coronary segments. Sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive value of MSCT-CA for detecting significant coronary artery on a per-segment basis were 100%, 98.6%, 71.2% and 100%, respectively. All patients with at least one significant lesion were correctly identified by MSCT-CA. MSCT-CA scored 15 false positives on a per-segment base, which affected only marginally the per-patient performance (only one false positive)., Conclusions: We concluded that 64-slice CT-CA is a diagnostic modality with high sensitivity and negative predictive value in patients at low to intermediate risk.

The goal of this article is to illustrate the main invasive and noninvasive diagnostic modalities to image the vulnerable coronary plaque, which is responsible for acute coronary syndrome. The main epidemiologic and histological issues are briefly discussed in order to provide an adequate background. Comprehensive coronary atherosclerosis imaging should involve visualization of the entire coronary artery tree and plaque characterization, including three-dimensional morphology, relationship with the lumen, composition, vascular remodelling and presence of inflammation. No single technique provides such a comprehensive description, and no available modality extensively identifies the vulnerable plaque. In particular, we describe multislice computed tomography, which at present seems to be the most promising noninvasive tool for an exhaustive image-based quantification of coronary atherosclerosis.

Acute cholecystitis is a non-rare disease, the incidence of which was increasing in the last years parallel to biliary lithiasis, which in 90% of cases is the first cause of such pathology. From the anatomopathological standpoint, we distinguish three types of acute cholecystitis: catarrhal, suppurative and gangrenous. The most frequently remarked symptom is ache at right hypochondrium. Only in 30% of cases cholecyst can be palpated, in form of ovoid mass; typical is the positiveness of Murphy's manoeuvre; constant is fever, but not subicterus. The introduction of new methods of ascertainment, exempt from any risks, simple to be performed and remarkably careful, made the diagnostics of acute cholecystites easier: parietal cholecystotomography, hepato-biliary scintigraphy, echotomography (first approach investigation), computerized axial tomography and laparoscopy almost always succeed in dispelling doubts. By using more than one of these investigations, a diagnostic accuracy, touching on 100%, can be reached. The differential diagnosis should be placed with: peptic ulcer, acute pancreatitis, acute appendicitis, gonococcus perihepatitis, virus hepatitis, acute pyelonephritis, right basal pneumonia. The complications an acute cholecystitis can occur are: perforation (localized, in free peritoneum or in a hollow organ), choleperitonaeum, necrosis of hepatic parenchyma, acute pancreatitis. Due to the possible arising of such complications, the mortality unfortunately is not indifferent (5%), especially in patients already weakened by other chronic diseases. Still discussed is the question as to when performing operation. In fact, there are three trends: intervention in immediate emergency, in postponed emergency, or in remote time (preceded by a medical treatment). The Authors prefer the intervention in postponed emergency, as, in their experience, they remarked the poor effectiveness of the delay medical treatment, also involving a greater difficulty in the technical execution of the intervention and a longer stay in hospital. From 1973 up to 1983, 241 cases of acute cholecystitis (158 women and 83 men) were hospitalized at the First Aid Surgical Centre of the Catania University. Eight patients refused the surgical intervention. The remaining 233 underwent, depending upon the seriousness of the affection, the associated diseases and the different reactiveness to the medical treatment, operation: in immediate emergency (26.1%); in postponed emergency (67.8%; in remote time (6.1%). The mortality was 2.2%, with the lowest percentage in the second group.