title: Inadequate increase in the volume of major epicardial coronary arteries compared with that in left ventricular mass. Novel concept for characterization of coronary arteries using 64-slice computed tomography.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous studies have shown a correlation between coronary artery cross-sectional diameter and left ventricular (LV) mass. However, no studies have examined the correlation between actual coronary artery volume (CAV) and LV mass. In the present study, measurements of CAV by 64-multislice computed tomography (MSCT) were validated and the relationship between CAV and LV mass was investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  First, coronary artery phantoms consisting of syringes filled with solutions of contrast medium moving at simulated heart rates were scanned by 64-MSCT. Display window settings permitting accurate calculation of small volumes were optimized by evaluating volume-rendered images of the segmented contrast medium at different window settings. Next, 61 patients without significant coronary artery stenosis were scanned by 64-MSCT with the same protocol as for the phantoms. Coronary arteries were segmented on a workstation and the same window settings were applied to the volume-rendered images to calculate total CAV. Significant correlations between total CAV and LV mass (r=0.660, P<0.0001) were found, whereas an inverse relation was present between total CAV per 100 g of LV mass and LV mass.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The novel concept of "CAV" for the characterization of coronary arteries may prove useful for future research, particularly on the causes of LV hypertrophy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Cardiology, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan. ehara@med.osaka-cu.ac.jp
authors.forename: Shoichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ehara
authors.forename: Takuhiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Okuyama
authors.forename: Nobuyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shirai
authors.forename: Kenichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sugioka
authors.forename: Hiroki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Oe
authors.forename: Toshihide
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Itoh
authors.forename: Toshiyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsuoka
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ikura
authors.forename: Makiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ueda
authors.forename: Takahiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Naruko
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hozumi
authors.forename: Minoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yoshiyama
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008722:Methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology; D009929:Organ Size; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards