Cardiac computed tomography: indications, applications, limitations, and training requirements: report of a Writing Group deployed by the Working Group Nuclear Cardiology and Cardiac CT of the European Society of Cardiology and the European Council of Nuclear Cardiology.
As a consequence of improved technology, there is growing clinical interest in the use of multi-detector row computed tomography (MDCT) for non-invasive coronary angiography. Indeed, the accuracy of MDCT to detect or exclude coronary artery stenoses has been high in many published studies. This report of a Writing Group deployed by the Working Group Nuclear Cardiology and Cardiac CT (WG 5) of the European Society of Cardiology and the European Council of Nuclear Cardiology summarizes the present state of cardiac CT technology, as well as the currently available data concerning its accuracy and applicability in certain clinical situations. Besides coronary CT angiography, the use of CT for the assessment of cardiac morphology and function, evaluation of perfusion and viability, and analysis of heart valves is discussed. In addition, recommendations for clinical applications of cardiac CT imaging are given and limitations of the technique are described.
Schroeder
Stephen
S
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Eberhard-Karls-University Tuebingen, Otfried-Mueller-Strasse 10, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany. stephen.schroeder@med.uni-tuebingen.de
Achenbach
Stephan
S
Bengel
Frank
F
Burgstahler
Christof
C
Cademartiri
Filippo
F
de Feyter
Pim
P
George
Richard
R
Kaufmann
Philipp
P
Kopp
Andreas F
AF
Knuuti
Juhani
J
Ropers
Dieter
D
Schuijf
Joanne
J
Tops
Laurens F
LF
Bax
Jeroen J
JJ
D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011871:Radiology / Q000193:education; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*