Erschienen in:
01.01.2012 | Cardiac
Indications, imaging technique, and reading of cardiac computed tomography: survey of clinical practice
verfasst von:
M. H. Maurer, E. Zimmermann, P. Schlattmann, C. Germershausen, B. Hamm, Marc Dewey
Erschienen in:
European Radiology
|
Ausgabe 1/2012
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Abstract
Objectives
To obtain an overview of the current clinical practice of cardiac computed tomography (CT).
Methods
A 32-item questionnaire was mailed to a total of 750 providers of cardiac CT in 57 countries.
Results
A total of 169 questionnaires from 38 countries were available for analysis (23%). Most CT systems used (94%, 207/221) were of the latest generation (64-row or dual-source CT). The most common indications for cardiac CT was exclusion of coronary artery disease (97%, 164/169). Most centres used beta blockade (91%, 151/166) and sublingual nitroglycerine (80%, 134/168). A median slice thickness of 0.625 mm with a 0.5-mm increment and an 18-cm reconstruction field of view was used. Interpretation was most often done using source images in orthogonal planes (92%, 155/169). Ninety percent of sites routinely evaluate extracardiac structures on a large (70%) or cardiac field of view (20%). Radiology sites were significantly more interested in jointly performing cardiac CT together with cardiology than cardiologists. The mean examination time was 18.6 ± 8.4 min, and reading took on average 28.7 ± 17.8 min.
Conclusions
Cardiac CT has rapidly become established in clinical practice, and there is emerging consensus regarding indications, conduct of the acquisition, and reading.
Key Points
• Cardiac CT has now become a routine clinical procedure
• Over 90% of cardiac CTs performed use at least 64 row or dual-source CT.
• Radiologists are significantly more interested in performing cardiac CT together with cardiologists than vice versa.
• Consensus has been reached on accepted indications for referral
• Agreed technical standards are used by most cardiac CT providers.