Tamar Gaspar MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Ronen Rubinshtein MD, Abstract Co-Author: Fellowship funded, Koninklijke Philips Electronics NV

Liran Domachevsky MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

David Anthony Halon MBChB, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Basil Lewis MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Nathan Peled MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Obesity is a risk factor for both coronary artery disease (CAD) and all cause mortality. Better short-term outcome has been reported, however, after myocardial revascularization in obese patients. The purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility and overall image quality achieved with 64-slice non-invasive coronary CT angiography (CCTA) and the prevalence of significant coronary stenosis in symptomatic obese patients as compared to non-obese.

We examined 309 consecutive symptomatic patients (60±11yr, 68% men) by non-invasive coronary CT angiography using a 64-slice MDCT scanner (Brilliance 64, Philips) for overall CT image quality (reduced/average/good) and for the presence of significant CAD defined as: ≥1 coronary arterial narrowing ≥50% (arterial segments proximal to functional bypass grafts excluded). 130 patients (42%) had prior myocardial revascularization. Body mass index ≥30 kg/m2 was defined as obese.

Obese patients were younger (57.3±10.9 vs 61.4±11.9 yrs, p<0.0001) and had higher prevalence of hypertension [64/83(77%) vs 142/226(63%), p=0.02]. Image quality was not significantly different between groups [obese vs non-obese: 66% vs 76% (good), 24 vs 18% (average), 10 vs 6% (reduced)]. Obese patients had lower frequency of significant CAD on MDCT, 27/83(32%) vs 107/226(47%), p=0.02].

1. CCTA in obese patients is feasible and image quality is not significantly reduced. 2. Obese patients were younger, had higher prevalence of hypertension and had lower prevalence of significant CAD on MDCT. 3. Obese patients may reveal symptoms and be examined at an earlier stage of their disease. 4. 64-slice CCTA is a useful non-invasive tool to assess CAD severity in symptomatic obese patients.

64-slice Coronary CT Angiography is a useful non-invasive tool to assess coronary artery disease in symptomatic obese patients

Gaspar, T, Rubinshtein, R, Domachevsky, L, Halon, D, Lewis, B, Peled, N, Sixty-Four Slice Non-invasive Coronary CT Angiography is Feasible and Demonstrates an Earlier Stage of Coronary Artery Disease in Symptomatic Obese Patients.  Radiological Society of North America 2006 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 26 - December 1, 2006 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2006/4430848.html