title: Impact of beta-blockade premedication on image quality of ECG-gated thoracic aorta CT angiography.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Thoracic aortic aneurysm is one of the most common aorta pathologies worldwide, which is commonly evaluated by computed tomography angiography (CTA). One of the routine methods to improve the image quality of CTA is heart rate reduction prior to study by beta-blockade administration.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effect of beta-blockade on image quality of the ascending aorta in electrocardiography (ECG)-gated dual-source CTA (DSCTA) images.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this retrospective study, ECG-gated thoracic aorta CTA images of 40 patients without beta-blocker administration were compared with ECG-gated images of 40 patients with beta-blockade. Images of the aorta were analyzed objectively and subjectively at three levels: sinus of Valsalva (sinus), sinotubular junction (STJ), and mid ascending aorta (MAA). Quantitative sharpness index (SI) and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) were calculated and two radiologists evaluated the image quality using a 3-point scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean heart rate in beta-blocker and non-beta-blocker groups was 61.7 beats per minute (bpm) (range, 58.1-63.9 bpm) and 72.9 bpm (range, 69.3-84.1 bpm), respectively (P < 0.05). Aorta wall SI, SNR, and subjective grading were comparable between the two groups at all three levels (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Beta-blocker premedication may not be necessary for imaging of ascending aorta with ECG-gated DSCTA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Northwestern University-Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Pegah
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Entezari
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Northwestern University-Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Jeremy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Northwestern University-Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Hamid
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chalian
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Northwestern University-Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Huseyin Gurkan
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Tore
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Northwestern University-Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Carr
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Northwestern University-Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA v-yaghmai@northwestern.edu.
authors.forename: Vahid
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Yaghmai
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D055424:Cardiac-Gated Imaging Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000379:methods; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D011292:Premedication / Q000379:methods*; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists
keywords: Computed tomography angiography; ascending aorta; beta-antagonist; heart rate; image quality