The Year in Cardiology 2015: Imaging

Prognostic implications of several non-invasive imaging techniques have been the focus of some landmark studies published in 2015. Non-invasive characterization of atherosclerosis processes and vulnerable plaques have been possible with advances in cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and nuclear imaging techniques. In addition, 3-dimensional echocardiography and multidetector-row computed tomography have improved our understanding of valvular heart disease. Finally, data on the clinical role of integration of non-invasive imaging techniques (fusion imaging) are accumulating and its use is expected to increase in the coming years. The current review provides a summary of selected articles on prognostic impact of current non-invasive imaging techniques and technological innovations. In 2015, the new recommendations for cardiac chamber quantification using echocardiography in adults were published providing updated normative values for all four cardiac chambers based on multiple databases compiling data from a large number of normal subjects.1 In addition, this position document includes reference values for chamber quantification with three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography and myocardial deformation with strain imaging. These normative data permit differentiation between normal and abnormal findings. From a clinical perspective however, definition of the degree of abnormality (mild, moderate, or severe) may be more meaningful. The document acknowledges the difficulties to determine cut-off values that define the degree of abnormality and provides experience-based partition values only for left ventricular (LV) size, function and mass, and for left atrial (LA) volume. Data showing the prognostic value of LV global longitudinal strain (GLS) are accumulating. A recent meta-analysis pooling data from 16 studies ( n = 5721), encompassing different cardiac diseases [heart failure, acute myocardial infarction (MI), and valvular heart disease among others], showed that the prognostic value of LV GLS exceeds …

[1]  Jeroen J. Bax,et al.  Assessment of coronary artery plaque with non-contrast and T1-weighted magnetic resonance: promise for clinical use? , 2019, European heart journal.

[2]  Jens-Uwe Voigt,et al.  Relationship of visually assessed apical rocking and septal flash to response and long-term survival following cardiac resynchronization therapy (PREDICT-CRT). , 2016, European heart journal cardiovascular Imaging.

[3]  Manesh R. Patel,et al.  Quality-of-Life and Economic Outcomes of Assessing Fractional Flow Reserve With Computed Tomography Angiography: PLATFORM. , 2015, Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

[4]  Damini Dey,et al.  Relationship Between Quantitative Adverse Plaque Features From Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography and Downstream Impaired Myocardial Flow Reserve by 13N-Ammonia Positron Emission Tomography: A Pilot Study , 2015, Circulation. Cardiovascular imaging.

[5]  Matthias Gutberlet,et al.  Clinical outcomes of fractional flow reserve by computed tomographic angiography-guided diagnostic strategies vs. usual care in patients with suspected coronary artery disease: the prospective longitudinal trial of FFRCT: outcome and resource impacts study , 2015, European heart journal.

[6]  Jeroen J. Bax,et al.  Low gradient severe aortic stenosis with preserved ejection fraction: reclassification of severity by fusion of Doppler and computed tomographic data. , 2015, European heart journal.

[7]  N. Sattar,et al.  Prognostic significance of infarct core pathology revealed by quantitative non-contrast in comparison with contrast cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in reperfused ST-elevation myocardial infarction survivors , 2015, European heart journal.

[8]  Kyung-Han Lee,et al.  Carotid FDG Uptake Improves Prediction of Future Cardiovascular Events in Asymptomatic Individuals. , 2015, JACC. Cardiovascular imaging.

[9]  A. Sato,et al.  Coronary high-intensity plaque on T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging and its association with myocardial injury after percutaneous coronary intervention. , 2015, European heart journal.

[10]  K. Chinnaiyan,et al.  Triple Rule Out Versus Coronary CT Angiography in Patients With Acute Chest Pain: Results From the ACIC Consortium. , 2015, JACC. Cardiovascular imaging.

[11]  Scot-Heart Investigators,et al.  CT coronary angiography in patients with suspected angina due to coronary heart disease (SCOT-HEART): an open-label, parallel-group, multicentre trial , 2015, The Lancet.

[12]  M. Gladwin,et al.  Characterization of Right Ventricular Remodeling in Pulmonary Hypertension Associated With Patient Outcomes by 3-Dimensional Wall Motion Tracking Echocardiography , 2015, Circulation. Cardiovascular imaging.

[13]  A. Voskoboinik,et al.  Late gadolinium enhancement identified with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in sarcoidosis patients is associated with long-term ventricular arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death. , 2015, European heart journal cardiovascular Imaging.

[14]  H. Michelena,et al.  Dynamic phenotypes of degenerative myxomatous mitral valve disease: quantitative 3-dimensional echocardiographic study. , 2015, Circulation. Cardiovascular imaging.

[15]  B. Chow,et al.  Prognostic capabilities of coronary computed tomographic angiography before non-cardiac surgery: prospective cohort study , 2015, BMJ : British Medical Journal.

[16]  Albert Flotats,et al.  Current worldwide nuclear cardiology practices and radiation exposure: results from the 65 country IAEA Nuclear Cardiology Protocols Cross-Sectional Study (INCAPS) , 2015, European heart journal.

[17]  E. Yow,et al.  A selection of recent, original research papers , 2015, Journal of Nuclear Cardiology.

[18]  T. Callister,et al.  A 15-Year Warranty Period for Asymptomatic Individuals Without Coronary Artery Calcium: A Prospective Follow-Up of 9,715 Individuals. , 2015, JACC. Cardiovascular imaging.

[19]  Victor Mor-Avi,et al.  Recommendations for cardiac chamber quantification by echocardiography in adults: an update from the American Society of Echocardiography and the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging. , 2015, European heart journal cardiovascular Imaging.

[20]  D. Berman,et al.  Incremental prognostic utility of coronary CT angiography for asymptomatic patients based upon extent and severity of coronary artery calcium: results from the COronary CT Angiography EvaluatioN For Clinical Outcomes InteRnational Multicenter (CONFIRM) study. , 2015, European heart journal.

[21]  M. Motwani,et al.  Early diagnosis of cardiac implantable electronic device generator pocket infection using 18F-FDG-PET/CT , 2015, European heart journal cardiovascular Imaging.

[22]  Grace Lin,et al.  Right heart dysfunction in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. , 2014, European heart journal.

[23]  H. Michelena,et al.  Clinical outcome of isolated tricuspid regurgitation. , 2014, JACC. Cardiovascular imaging.

[24]  Xiangyang Tang,et al.  3D fusion of LV venous anatomy on fluoroscopy venograms with epicardial surface on SPECT myocardial perfusion images for guiding CRT LV lead placement. , 2014, JACC. Cardiovascular imaging.

[25]  S. Piechnik,et al.  T1 mapping and survival in systemic light-chain amyloidosis , 2014, European heart journal.

[26]  Jeroen J. Bax,et al.  Leaflet remodelling in functional mitral valve regurgitation: characteristics, determinants, and relation to regurgitation severity. , 2014, European heart journal cardiovascular Imaging.

[27]  P. Weale,et al.  Quantification of Left Ventricular Interstitial Fibrosis in Asymptomatic Chronic Primary Degenerative Mitral Regurgitation , 2014, Circulation. Cardiovascular imaging.

[28]  Michael E. Hall,et al.  Longitudinal Assessment of Concurrent Changes in Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction and Left Ventricular Myocardial Tissue Characteristics After Administration of Cardiotoxic Chemotherapies Using T1-Weighted and T2-Weighted Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance , 2014, Circulation Cardiovascular Imaging.

[29]  M. Cerqueira,et al.  Myocardial Perfusion Imaging in Emergency Department Patients With Negative Cardiac Biomarkers: Yield for Detecting Ischemia, Short-Term Events, and Impact of Downstream Revascularization on Mortality , 2014, Circulation. Cardiovascular imaging.

[30]  Diederik F Van Wijk,et al.  Nonpharmacological lipoprotein apheresis reduces arterial inflammation in familial hypercholesterolemia. , 2014, Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

[31]  L. Ling,et al.  A comprehensive evaluation of myocardial fibrosis in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging: linking genotype with fibrotic phenotype. , 2014, European heart journal cardiovascular Imaging.

[32]  Z. Fayad,et al.  In vivo imaging of enhanced leukocyte accumulation in atherosclerotic lesions in humans. , 2014, Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

[33]  F. Bengel,et al.  Characterizing the Inflammatory Tissue Response to Acute Myocardial Infarction by Clinical Multimodality Noninvasive Imaging , 2014, Circulation. Cardiovascular imaging.

[34]  Petr Otahal,et al.  Prognostic implications of global LV dysfunction: a systematic review and meta-analysis of global longitudinal strain and ejection fraction , 2014, Heart.

[35]  I. Valenta,et al.  Diagnostic value of PET-measured longitudinal flow gradient for the identification of coronary artery disease. , 2014, JACC. Cardiovascular imaging.

[36]  Jeroen J. Bax,et al.  2013 ESC guidelines on the management of stable coronary artery disease: the Task Force on the management of stable coronary artery disease of the European Society of Cardiology. , 2013, European heart journal.

[37]  S. Solomon,et al.  Regional cardiac dysfunction and outcome in patients with left ventricular dysfunction, heart failure, or both after myocardial infarction. , 2013, European heart journal.

[38]  Jeroen J. Bax,et al.  Association of persistent or worsened echocardiographic dyssynchrony with unfavourable clinical outcomes in heart failure patients with narrow QRS width: a subgroup analysis of the EchoCRT trial. , 2016, European heart journal.

[39]  Victor Mor-Avi,et al.  Recommendations for cardiac chamber quantification by echocardiography in adults: an update from the American Society of Echocardiography and the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging. , 2015, Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography : official publication of the American Society of Echocardiography.