title: Optimal timing of image acquisition for arterial first pass CT myocardial perfusion imaging.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the optimal timing of arterial first pass computed tomography (CT) myocardial perfusion imaging (CTMPI) based on dynamic CTMPI acquisitions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-five patients (59±8.4years, 14 male)underwent adenosine-stress dynamic CTMPI on second-generation dual-source CT in shuttle mode (30s at 100kV and 300mAs). Stress perfusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used as reference standard for differentiation of non-ischemic and ischemic segments. The left ventricle (LV) wall was manually segmented according to the AHA 16-segment model. Hounsfield units (HU) in myocardial segments and ascending (AA) and descending aorta (AD) were monitored over time. Time difference between peak AA and peak AD and peak myocardial enhancement was calculated, as well as the, time delay from fixed HU thresholds of 150 and 250 HU in the AA and AD to a minimal difference of 15 HU between normal and ischemic segments. Furthermore, the duration of the 15 HU difference between ischemic and non-ischemic segments was calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Myocardial ischemia was observed by MRI in 10 patients (56.3±9.0years; 8 male). The delay between the maximum HU in the AA and AD and maximal HU in the non-ischemic segments was 2.8s [2.2-4.3] and 0.0s [0.0-2.8], respectively. Differentiation between ischemic and non-ischemic myocardial segments in CT was best during a time window of 8.6±3.8s. Time delays for AA triggering were 4.5s [2.2-5.6] and 2.2s [0-2.8] for the 150 HU and 250 HU thresholds, respectively. While for AD triggering, time delays were 2.4s [0.0-4.8] and 0.0s [-2.2-2.6] for the 150 HU and 250 HU thresholds, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In CTMPI, the differentiation between normal and ischemic myocardium is best accomplished during a time interval of 8.6±3.8s. This time window can be utilized by a test bolus or bolus tracking in the AA or AD using the time delays identified here.
authors.affiliation: University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Center for Medical Imaging North East Netherlands (CMI-nen), Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: g.j.pelgrim@umcg.nl.
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Pelgrim
authors.affiliation: University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Center for Medical Imaging North East Netherlands (CMI-nen), Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands; University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE, Enschede, The Netherlands. Electronic address: e.r.nieuwenhuis@student.utwente.nl.
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Nieuwenhuis
authors.affiliation: Medical University of South Carolina, Dept. of Radiology, 25 Courtenay Drive, SC 29425, Charleston, United States. Electronic address: duguay@musc.edu.
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Duguay
authors.affiliation: Leiden University Medical Center, Dept. of Radiology, Postbus 9600, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands. Electronic address: R.J.van_der_Geest@lumc.nl.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: van der Geest
authors.affiliation: Medical University of South Carolina, Dept. of Radiology, 25 Courtenay Drive, SC 29425, Charleston, United States. Electronic address: vargaasz@musc.edu.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Varga-Szemes
authors.affiliation: University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Center for Medical Imaging North East Netherlands (CMI-nen), Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands; University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE, Enschede, The Netherlands. Electronic address: c.h.slump@utwente.nl.
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Slump
authors.affiliation: Medical University of South Carolina, Dept. of Radiology, 25 Courtenay Drive, SC 29425, Charleston, United States. Electronic address: fullerst@musc.edu.
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Fuller
authors.affiliation: University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Center for Medical Imaging North East Netherlands (CMI-nen), Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: m.oudkerk@umcg.nl.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oudkerk
authors.affiliation: Medical University of South Carolina, Dept. of Radiology, 25 Courtenay Drive, SC 29425, Charleston, United States. Electronic address: schoepf@musc.edu.
authors.forename: U J
authors.initials: UJ
authors.lastname: Schoepf
authors.affiliation: University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Center for Medical Imaging North East Netherlands (CMI-nen), Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands; Medical University of South Carolina, Dept. of Radiology, 25 Courtenay Drive, SC 29425, Charleston, United States. Electronic address: r.vliegenthart@umcg.nl.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vliegenthart
mesh_terms: D000241:Adenosine; D000368:Aged; D003287:Contrast Media; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D055414:Myocardial Perfusion Imaging / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D012015:Reference Standards; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D000241:Adenosine
keywords: Iodine; Ischemia; Myocardial perfusion imaging; Tomography; X-Ray computed