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Published on: April 18, 2013
Sex-specific normalized reference values of heart and great vessel dimensions in cardiac CT angiography
Gregory Nevsky1, Jill E Jacobs, Ruth P Lim
1Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, 660 First Ave, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10016, USA.
Insights
This study establishes sex-specific reference ranges for cardiac CT angiography (CTA) measurements in individuals without coronary artery disease (CAD). These new ranges provide crucial data for accurate cardiac chamber and great vessel assessments.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Imaging
- Radiology
- Medical Diagnostics
Background:
- Existing cardiac CT angiography (CTA) reference values are limited by population characteristics and the presence of coronary artery disease (CAD).
- Accurate reference ranges are essential for interpreting cardiac chamber size, wall thickness, ejection fraction (EF), and great vessel diameters.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish sex-specific, normalized reference ranges for cardiac chambers, aorta, and pulmonary artery (PA) using cardiac CTA.
- To provide accurate measurements in a population free from CAD and its risk factors.
Main Methods:
- Seventy-six healthy patients (38 men, 38 women) without cardiovascular risk factors underwent 64-MDCTA.
- Measurements of left atrium (LA), left ventricle (LV), thoracic aorta, and PA were normalized to body surface area (BSA).
Main Results:
- Significant sex-based differences were observed in most cardiac and great vessel measurements.
- After BSA normalization, chamber dimensions and ascending aorta/left PA sizes remained significantly different between sexes.
- Specific normalized values for LA area, LV end-diastolic size, and EF showed notable sex-based variations.
Conclusions:
- Cardiac CTA measurements for left heart chambers, thoracic aorta, and pulmonary arteries were successfully established for a healthy population.
- These sex-specific, normalized ranges serve as a valuable reference for clinical interpretation.
Objective:
Published cardiac CT angiography (CTA) reference measurements for the cardiac chambers, aorta, and pulmonary artery (PA) are incomplete and compromised by study population, coronary artery disease (CAD), or its risk factors. The purpose of our study was to establish sex-specific normalized ranges of cardiac chamber size, wall thickness, ejection fraction (EF), and aorta and PA diameter on cardiac CTA in a population without CAD or its risk factors.
Materials And Methods:
Seventy-six patients (38 men and 38 women) without known diabetes; hypertension; smoking history; or evidence of structural heart, vascular, or coronary artery diseases underwent 64-MDCTA. Obtained left atrial (LA) size, left ventricular (LV) volumes, LV wall thickness, thoracic aorta, and PA diameter measurements were normalized to body surface area (BSA).
Results:
There were statistically significant differences noted between men and women for all measured left-sided heart and great vessel measurements. After normalization to BSA, only chamber dimensions and ascending aorta and left PA sizes remained significantly different. Selected normalized measurements for men versus women, respectively, include LA area, 10.6 ± 2.1 versus 12.3 ± 2.1 cm²/m²; LV end-diastolic size, 72.4 ± 15.1 versus 60.9 ± 13.3 mL/m²; EF, 67% ± 7% versus 72% ± 8%; aortic sinus, 1.6 ± 0.2 versus 1.7 ± 0.2 cm/m²; ascending aorta, 1.4 ± 0.2 versus 1.6 ± 0.2 cm/m²; descending aorta, 1.1 ± 0.1 versus 1.2 ± 0.1 cm/m²; main PA, 1.3 ± 0.1 versus 1.4 ± 0.1 cm/m²; right PA, 1.1 ± 0.1 versus 1.1 ± 0.2 cm/m²; and left PA, 1.0 ± 0.1 versus 1.1 ± 0.1 cm/m².
Conclusion:
Cardiac CTA measurements of the left cardiac chambers, thoracic aorta, and pulmonary arteries were established for a population without CAD or its risk factors.
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