title: Computed tomography coronary angiography with a consistent dose below 2 mSv using double prospectively ECG-triggered high-pitch spiral acquisition in patients with atrial fibrillation: initial experience.
abstract: To evaluate the feasibility and imaging quality of double prospectively ECG-triggered high-pitch spiral acquisition mode (double flash mode) for coronary computed tomography angiography (CTCA) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). 47 patients (11 women, 36 men; mean age 64.5 ± 12.1 years) were enrolled for CTCA examinations using a dual-source CT with 2 × 128 × 0.6 mm collimation, 0.28 s rotation time and a pitch of 3.4. Double flash mode was prospectively triggered first at 60 % and later at 30 % of the R-R interval within two cardiac cycles. Image quality was evaluated using a four-point scale (1 = excellent, 4 = non-assessable). From 672 coronary artery segments, 77.5 % (521/672) was rated as score of 1, 20.8 % (140/672) as score of 2, 1.2 % (8/672) as score of 3 and 0.4 % (3/672) was rated as 'non-assessable'. The average image quality score was 1.25 ± 0.38 on a per segment basis. Mean dose-length product for CTCA was 92.6 ± 28.2 mGy cm, the effective dose was 1.30 ± 0.39 mSv (0.64-1.97 mSv). In patients with AF, double prospectively ECG-triggered high-pitch spiral acquisition mode could be a feasible and valuable scan mode for CTCA with a consistent dose below 2 mSv as well as diagnostic imaging quality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, China. doctorwq301@gmail.com
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: Bai
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Yin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Jun-jie
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Xiao-ling
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.forename: Xiao-bo
authors.initials: XB
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jiu-hong
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yun-dai
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D055424:Cardiac-Gated Imaging Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D002681:China; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed