Association of atherosclerosis in the descending thoracic aorta with coronary artery disease on multi detector row computed tomography coronary angiography in patients with suspected coronary artery disease

Abstract

The association between atherosclerosis in the descending thoracic aorta (DTA) visualized on computed tomography coronary angiography (CTA) and coronary artery disease (CAD) has not been extensively explored. Therefore, a comprehensive analysis of DTA atherosclerosis on CTA was performed and the association of DTA atherosclerosis with CAD was evaluated in patients with suspected CAD. A total of 344 patients (54 ± 12 years, 54% men) with suspected CAD underwent CTA. CTA were classified based on CAD severity in no signs of atherosclerosis or minor wall-irregularities <30%, non-significant CAD 30-50%, or significant CAD ≥50% stenosis. The DTA was divided in segments according the posterior intercostal arteries. Per segment the presence of atherosclerotic plaque (defined as ≥2 mm wall thickness) was determined and maximal wall thickness was measured. Plaque composition was scored as non-calcified or mixed and the percentage of DTA segments with atherosclerosis was calculated. Significant CAD was present in 152 (44%) patients and 278 (81%) had DTA atherosclerotic plaque. DTA maximal wall thickness and percentage of DTA segments with atherosclerosis were 2.7 ± 1 mm and 49 ± 36%. The presence, severity and extent of DTA atherosclerosis significantly increased with increasing CAD severity. Multivariate logistic regression analysis corrected for age and other risk factors demonstrated independent associations of DTA plaque (OR 6.56, 95% CI 1.78-24.19, p = 0.005) and maximal DTA wall thickness (OR 2.00, 95% CI 1.28-3.12, p = 0.002) with significant CAD. The presence and severity of DTA atherosclerosis were independently related with significant CAD on CTA in patients with suspected CAD.

The association between gallstone disease and plaque in the abdominopelvic arteries

“…[3132] In an autopsy series of abdominal aortic plaques, it was reported that plaques in the abdominal aorta were more severe in patients with cardiac injury compared to those without. [33] The presence and severity of plaques at the descending thoracic aorta were independently related to significant coronary artery disease detected by a coronary angiography CT.[34] Coronary calcification was found to be associated with carotid plaques. [35] Kälsch et al .…”

A Newly Developed mm-Wave Sensor for Detecting Plaques of Arterial Vessels

“…6 Herein, calcification process in great vessels (aorta) and coronary vessels proceeds independently of each other. 7 The differentiation between smooth and hard plaque structures remains reasonable because its vulnerability represents the risk for a myocardial infarction or complete vascular occlusion. Plaque morphology and composition play critical roles in plaque rupture and coronary occlusion.…”

DEEPCADD: A Deep Neural Network for Automatic Detection of Coronary Artery Disease

“…A lesão apresentada na Figura 4 (a) é caracterizada pela presenc ¸a de um estreitamento visível e é responsável pelo melhor resultado do DeepCADD na comparac ¸ão com os especialistas. Nesse mesmo aspecto de lesões, o DeepCADD foi capaz de identificar as lesões < 30%, conhecidas como irregularidades parietais que normalmente não são selecionadas pelos especialistas devido a sua baixa significância na reduc ¸ão de fluxo sanguíneo [Roos et al 2013]. Por outro lado, as lesões apresentadas na Figura 4 (b) e Figura 4 (c) foram as responsáveis pela maior parte de falso-negativos, por dois principais motivos.…”