Cardiovascular Computed Tomography

Recent years have seen a marked increase in cardiovascular computed tomography (CT) imaging, with the technique now integrated into many imaging guidelines, such as those published by ESC and NICE. Rapid clinical and technological progress has created a need for guidance on the practical aspects of CT image acquisition, analysis and interpretation.

The Oxford Specialist Handbook of Cardiovascular CT, now revised for the second edition by practising international experts with many years of hands-on experience, is designed to fulfil this need. The Handbook is a practical guide on performing, analysing and interpreting cardiovascular CT scans, covering all aspects from patient safety to optimal image acquisition to differential diagnoses of tricky images. It takes an international approach to both accreditation and certification, highlighting British, European, and American examinations and courses.

The format is designed to be accessible and is laid out in easy to navigate sections. It is meant as a quick-reference guide, to live near the CT scanner, workstation, or on the office shelf. The Handbook is aimed at all cardiovascular CT users (Cardiologists, Radiologists and Radiographers), particularly those new to cardiovascular CT, although even the advanced user should find useful tips and tricks within.

Table of Contents

1: Historical development of cardiovascular CT
2: MSCT scanner components
3: Technical principles of cardiovascular CT
4: Beyond 64-detector CT
5: Radiation physics, biology, and protection
6: Practical aspects of cardiovascular CT
7: Intravenous contrast media
8: Scan protocols
9: Difficult scenarios
10: Image reconstruction and processing
11: Sources of artefact
12: Cross-sectional anatomy of the thorax
13: The coronary arteries and cardiac veins
14: Assessment of coronary artery disease
15: Coronary stent imaging
16: Coronary artery bypass graft imaging
17: Ventricular pathology
18: Evaluation of myocardial scarring and perfusion
19: Evaluation of the left atrium and pulmonary veins
20: CT workup prior to transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI)
21: Valve imaging
22: Pericardial disease
23: Adult congenital heart disease
24: Non-cardiac findings on cardiac CT
25: Thoracic aortic imaging
26: Pulmonary artery imaging
27: Peripheral arterial imaging
28: Systemic veins
29: Accreditation and certification in cardiovascular CT
30: Comparison of multi-modality imaging
31: Future directions of cardiac CT

James Stirrup, Consultant Cardiologist, Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, Reading, UK, Michelle Williams, Clinical Lecturer in Cardiothoracic Radiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK, Russell Bull, Consultant Radiologist, Royal Bournemouth Hospital, Bournemouth, UK, and Edited by Ed Nicol, Consultant Cardiologist and Head of Cardiovascular CT, Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK