title: Evaluation of the coronary sinus on chest computed tomography in patients with and without pulmonary artery hypertension.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify and measure the coronary sinus (CS) in patients with and without pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) using chest computed tomography (CT).
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a 4-channel GE LightSpeed CT scanner, nongated axial chest CT images were obtained after intravenous injection of contrast material. Catheterization of the right side of the heart was performed in patients with known or suspected PAH.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The CS was identified in all 60 patients (mean +/- SD, 60.5 +/- 17.5 years; 45% men) without PAH (control group) (mean +/- SD, diameter 7.05 +/- 1.90 mm). In 24 patients (9 men; average age +/- SD, 54.1 +/- 14.5 years) with known or suspected PAH (study group), pulmonary artery (PA) pressures were increased; the CS was dilated (mean +/- SD, 9.4 +/- 4. 2 mm); and its size correlated with right atrial pressure (r = 0.358, P = 0.061), mean PA pressure (r = 0.568, P = 0.005), systolic PA pressure (r = 0.375, P = 0.071), and diastolic PA (r = 0.561, P = 0.004).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The CS is routinely visualized and measurable on chest CT. In patients with PAH, CS dilation is associated with increased PA pressures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of California San Diego Medical Center, San Diego, CA, USA.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Isaacs
authors.forename: Saman
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hazany
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gamst
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stark
authors.forename: Ehtisham
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mahmud
mesh_terms: D003287:Contrast Media; D054326:Coronary Sinus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D014283:Triiodobenzoic Acids
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D014283:Triiodobenzoic Acids; C054871:ioversol