Imaging Coronary Arteries

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in Western countries. In non-fatal cases, they are associated with a decreased quality of life as well as a substantial economic burden to society. Most sudden cardiac events are related to the complications of a non-stenosing marginal plaque. For this reason, the ability to properly identify the atherosclerotic plaque with rapid, non-invasive techniques is of utmost clinical interest in therapeutic planning. CT produces high-quality images of the coronary arteries, in addition to defining their location and the extent of the atherosclerotic involvement. Proper knowledge of the equipment, adequate preparation of the patient, and accurate evaluation of the images are essential to obtaining a consistent clinical diagnosis in every case. This new edition is enriched with dedicated chapters on intravascular ultrasound (IVUS), catheter angiography, and nuclear imaging, with limited discussions of theoretical techniques such as optical coherence tomography (OCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Brief chapters will also be included that discuss percutaneous coronary artery procedures and coronary artery bypass surgery. Indications of when to use CCTA will be discussed, with comparison of these imaging techniques to each other. This volume provides general practitioners and cardiologists with a basic understanding of the imaging techniques. For radiologists with no direct experience in cardiac imaging, the book serves as an important source of information on coronary pathophysiology and anatomy.