| OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the incidence and degree of coronary tortuosity inpatients without coronary stenosis using256-slice coronary CT angiography(CTA).METHODS: A total of525patients with suspected coronary heart diseaseunderwent coronary CTA on a256-slice MDCT (Brilliance iCT) and wereconfirmed the absence of coronary stenosis. Original and postprocessingthin-layer images of the heart were acquired. Site, incidence and degree ofcoronary tortuosity, as well as correlation of coronary tortuosity with age, sex,and body mass index (BMI) were analyzed.RESULTS: Of525patients without coronary stenosis, the incidence ofcoronary tortuosity was40.2%(211/525), and the incidence was higher infemales (25.7%) compared with the males (14.3%). Moreover, the average ageof patients with coronary tortuosity was older than those without (P <0.05).However, there was no statistical difference in BMI between patients with orwithout coronary tortuosity (P>0.05). Incidence of tortuosity was28.6%(150cases) in the left circumflex,24.6%(129cases) in the left anterior descending branch,14.9%(78cases) in the right coronary artery. Incidence of tortuosityin single branch was18.3%(96cases), including6.9%(36cases) in theanterior descending branch,8.8%(46cases) in the left circumflex and2.9%(15cases) in the right coronary artery. Incidence of tortuosity was15.4%(81cases) in double branches and6.3%(33cases) in three branches. The severityof tortuosity was mild in13.5%(71cases), moderate in14.5%(76cases) andsevere in12.2%(64cases).CONCLUSION: Coronary CTA objectively displays the coronary arteryanatomy including information of clinical value such as the path and tortuosityof the vessels. OBJECTIVE: To quantitatively evaluate the correlation between coronarytortuosity and coronary stenosis using256-slice spiral CT angiography (CTA).METHODS: A total of1275patients with suspected coronary heart diseaseunderwent coronary CTA on a256-slice MDCT (Brilliance iCT), including693males and582females, with an average age of57±12years (range33-78years). Original and postprocessing thin-layer images of the heart wereacquired. Degree of coronary stenosis and incidence of coronary tortuositywere assessed and their correlation was analyzed. In addition, the correlationbetween coronary stenosis, coronary tortuosity and gender was analyzed.RESULTS: Of1275patients undergoing coronary CTA,336patients hadsignificant coronary stenosis (stenosis>50%), including219males (17.2%)and117females (9.2%), and447patients had coronary tortuosity, including192males (15.1%) and255females (20%). The incidence of significantcoronary stenosis in single or multiple branches was lower in coronarytortuosity group compared with patients without (P <0.05).CONCLUSION: Coronary CTA objectively displayed coronary tortuosityand stenosis. Coronary tortuosity and stenosis can induce hemodynamicchanges, with an inverse correlation found between the two, i.e., with a reduced incidence of significant coronary stenosis observed in patients withtortuous coronary vessels. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the correlation between coronary tortuosity and leftventricular (LV) function in416patients without obvious coronary stenosisbased on data of256-slice CT angiography (CTA).METHODS: Data of416(210males,206females) patients diagnosed assuspected coronary heart disease who underwent coronary artery imaging andheart function analysis using256-slice MDCT (Brilliance iCT) scanning wereretrospectively analyzed. The average age was51±11,, including32aged <40years,270aged40--60years, and114aged older than60years. Coronarytortuosity was recorded in all and left ventricular end diastolic volume,end-systolic volume, stroke volume, ejection fraction and cardiac output weremeasured. Patients were assigned to groups according coronary tortuositydegree, age and gender, and influence of coronary tortuosity on heart functionwas analyzed.RESULTS: LV end diastolic volume, end-systolic volume, stroke volume,and cardiac output were significantly decreased in coronary tortuosity groupcompared with patients without coronary tortuosity (P <0.05). In addition,based on age and gender groupings, LV function parameters were all lower incoronary tortuosity group compared with patients without coronary tortuosity (P <0.05).CONCLUSION: The coronary CTA can be used to analyze coronary arteryimaging and LV function. Coronary tortuosity may reduce the functionalreserve of the LV. |
