In-plane coronary arterial motion velocity: measurement with electron-beam CT.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the speed of and changes in the speed of coronary arterial movement during the cardiac cycle with electron-beam computed tomography (CT).


METHODS
With electron-beam CT, 20 consecutive cross-sectional images were acquired at the mid right coronary artery (with 50-msec acquisition time, 8-msec intersection delay, 7-mm section thickness, and intravenous administration of 40 mL of contrast agent) in 25 patients. On the basis of the displacement of the left anterior descending, left circumflex, and right coronary arterial cross sections from image to image, movement velocity in the transverse imaging plane was calculated and was correlated with the simultaneously recorded electrocardiogram.


RESULTS
The velocity of in-plane coronary arterial motion varied considerably during the cardiac cycle. Peaks were caused by ventricular systole and diastole and by atrial contraction. The mean velocity was 46.6 mm/sec +/- 12. 5 (SD). The mean velocity of right coronary arterial movement (69.5 mm/sec +/- 22.5) was significantly faster than that of the left anterior descending (22.4 mm/sec +/- 4.1) or the left circumflex coronary artery (48.4 mm/sec +/- 15.0). The lowest mean velocity (27. 9 mm/sec) was at 48% of the cardiac cycle.


CONCLUSIONS
The lowest velocity of coronary arterial movement, which displays considerable temporal variation, was at 48% of the cardiac cycle.
Achenbach
S
S
Department of Internal Medicine II, University of Erlangen-Nuernberg, Oestliche Stadtmauerstr 29, D-91054, Erlangen, Germany. stephan.achenbach@rzmail.unierlangen.de
Ropers
D
D
Holle
J
J
Muschiol
G
G
Daniel
W G
WG
Moshage
W
W
D000368:Aged; D019412:Anatomy, Cross-Sectional; D016275:Atrial Function / Q000502:physiology; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000502:physiology; D003971:Diastole / Q000502:physiology; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007472:Iohexol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009068:Movement; D009200:Myocardial Contraction; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement; D013599:Systole; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D016276:Ventricular Function / Q000502:physiology
D003287:Contrast Media; D007472:Iohexol; C038192:iopromide