title: Italian Registry of Cardiac Computed Tomography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cardiac CT (CCT) is an imaging modality that is becoming a standard in clinical cardiology. We evaluated indications, safety, and impact on patient management of routine CCT in a multicenter national registry.
  
  
  METHODS
  During a period of 6 months, 47 centers in Italy enrolled 3,455 patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CCT was performed mainly with 64-slice CT scanners (73.02 %). Contrast agents were administrated in 3,185 patients (92.5 %). Mean DLP changes with type of scanner and was lower in >64 row detector scanner. The most frequent indication for CCT was suspected CAD (44.8 %), followed by calcium scoring (9.6 %), post-angioplasty/stenting (8.3 %), post-CABGs (7.5 %), study of cardiac anatomy (4.22 %) and assessment in patients with known CAD (4.1 %) and acute chest pain (1.99 %). Most of the CCTs were performed in outpatient settings (2,549; 74 %) and a minority in inpatient settings (719, 20.8 %). Adverse clinical events (mild-moderate) occurred in 26 examinations (0.75 %). None of them was severe. In 45.3 % of the cases CCT findings impacted patient management.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CCT is performed with different workloads in participating centers. It is a safe procedure and its results have a strong impact on patient management.
authors.affiliation: Cardio-Vascular Imaging Unit, Giovanni XXIII Hospital, Monastier di Treviso, Italy.|Erasmus Medical Center University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cademartiri
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche Applicate e Biotecnologie, Università di L'Aquila, Via Vetoio 1, 67100, L'Aquila, Italy. ernesto.dicesare@cc.univaq.it.
authors.forename: Ernesto
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Di Cesare
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiological, Oncological and Pathological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Francone
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Centro Cardiologico Monzino, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ballerini
authors.affiliation: Azienda Ospedaliera-Universitaria Policlinico di Modena, Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ligabue
authors.affiliation: Cardio-Vascular Imaging Unit, Giovanni XXIII Hospital, Monastier di Treviso, Italy.|Erasmus Medical Center University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Erica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Maffei
authors.affiliation: Policlinico Universitario Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Romagnoli
authors.affiliation: Azienda ospedaliera G Brotzu, Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni Maria
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Argiolas
authors.affiliation: Policlinico S. Orsola, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.affiliation: Ospedale San Camillo Folanini, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Vitaliano
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Buffa
authors.affiliation: Policlinico Gemelli, Università Cattolica, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Marano
authors.affiliation: Azienda Ospedale-Università, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guzzetta
authors.affiliation: UOC di Radiologia OspCattinara, Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Belgrano
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiological, Oncological and Pathological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Iacopo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Carbone
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Imaging, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Macarini
authors.affiliation: Radiologia Ospedale,Valduce, Como, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Borghi
authors.affiliation: Fate Bene Fratelli Isola tiberina, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Di Renzi
authors.affiliation: Ospedale di Villa D'Agri, Masciovetere, Italy.
authors.forename: Vicenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Barile
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche Applicate e Biotecnologie, Università di L'Aquila, Via Vetoio 1, 67100, L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Patriarca
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D057791:Cardiac Imaging Techniques / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012042:Registries; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cardiac CT; Coronary artery; Heart diseases; Indications; Registry