title: Epicardial adipose tissue and pericoronary fat thickness measured with 64-multidetector computed tomography: potential predictors of the severity of coronary artery disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between pericoronary fat and the severity and extent of atherosclerosis, quantified using 64-multidetector computed tomography, in patients with suspected coronary artery disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population consisted of 131 patients who were clinically referred for noninvasive multislice computed tomography coronary angiography for the evaluation of coronary artery disease. Patients were classified as follows: no atherosclerosis, Group 1; nonobstructive atherosclerosis (luminal narrowing <50% in diameter), Group 2; and obstructive atherosclerosis (luminal narrowing ≥ 50%) in a single vessel or obstructive atherosclerosis in the left main coronary artery and/or multiple vessels, Group 3. Epicardial adipose tissue was defined as the adipose tissue between the surface of the heart and the visceral layer of the pericardium (visceral epicardium). Epicardial adipose tissue thickness (mm) was determined in the right ventricular anterior free wall. The mean thickness of the pericoronary fat surrounding the three coronary arteries was used for the analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average thickness over all three regions was 13.2 ± 2.1 mm. The pericoronary fat thickness was significantly increased in Group 3 compared with Groups 2 and 1. The epicardial adipose tissue thickness was significantly increased in Group 3 compared with Groups 2 and 1. A receiver operating characteristic curve for obstructive coronary artery disease was assessed to verify the optimum cut-off point for pericoronary fat thickness, which was 13.8 mm. A receiver operating characteristic curve for obstructive coronary artery disease was also assessed to verify the optimum cut-off point for epicardial adipose tissue, which was 6.8 cm.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We showed that the epicardial adipose tissue and pericoronary fat thickness scores were higher in patients with obstructive coronary artery diseases.
authors: Department of Cardiology, Turgut Ozal Un?vercity, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Muhammed Bora
authors: MB
authors: Demircelik
authors: Department of Cardiology, Ankara Occupational Diseases Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Omer Caglar
authors: OC
authors: Yilmaz
authors: Department of Cardiology, Turgut Ozal Un?vercity, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Ozgul Malcok
authors: OM
authors: Gurel
authors: Department of Cardiology, Turgut Ozal Un?vercity, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Yusuf
authors: Y
authors: Selcoki
authors: Department of Cardiology, Turgut Ozal Un?vercity, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Inci Asli
authors: IA
authors: Atar
authors: Department of Radiology, Turgut Ozal Un?vercity, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Alper
authors: A
authors: Bozkurt
authors: Department of Radiology, Turgut Ozal Un?vercity, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Kayihan
authors: K
authors: Akin
authors: Department of Cardiology, Turgut Ozal Un?vercity, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Beyhan
authors: B
authors: Eryonucu
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000328:Adult; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D061330:Multidetector Computed Tomography; D010496:Pericardium / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012372:ROC Curve; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index