Left Ventricular Mid-Diastolic Wall Thickness: Normal Values for Coronary CT Angiography

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Radiology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Left ventricular mid-diastolic wall thickness (LV-MDWT) is an important cardiac parameter.
• Establishing normal reference values is crucial for accurate diagnosis and prognosis.
• CT angiography offers a detailed view of cardiac structures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine normal reference values for LV-MDWT using prospective electrocardiographically (ECG) triggered mid-diastolic coronary CT angiography.
• To provide sex- and age-specific benchmarks for LV-MDWT.
• To explore the potential of these benchmarks in expanding the diagnostic and prognostic roles of CT angiography.

Main Methods:

• LV-MDWT was measured in 2383 patients without structural heart disease using ECG-triggered mid-diastolic coronary CT angiography.
• Measurements were performed manually on automatically segmented short-axis images based on the AHA 17-segment model.
• Left ventricular (LV) mass was calculated using commercial software.

Main Results:

• The average LV-MDWT was 7.24 mm ± 1.86 mm.
• Significant differences in LV-MDWT were observed between sexes (men: 7.90 mm ± 1.24 mm; women: 6.47 mm ± 1.07 mm) and age groups (<65 vs. ≥65 years).
• A strong correlation was found between LV-MDWT and LV mass (P < .001).

Conclusions:

• Normal sex- and age-specific reference ranges for LV-MDWT were established using CT angiography.
• These reference values can enhance the diagnostic and prognostic utility of CT angiography.
• The findings extend the application of CT angiography beyond coronary artery disease assessment.