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Adipo-Clear: A Tissue Clearing Method for Three-Dimensional Imaging of Adipose Tissue
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The Emerging Role of CT-Based Imaging in Adipose Tissue and Coronary Inflammation

Jeremy Yuvaraj1, Kevin Cheng1, Andrew Lin2

  • 1Monash Cardiovascular Research Centre, Victorian Heart Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University and Monash Heart, Monash Health, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia.

Cells
|June 2, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Pericoronary adipose tissue (PCAT) attenuation on coronary CTA is a promising non-invasive marker for coronary artery disease (CAD) risk. Studies show PCAT attenuation is linked to major coronary events and vulnerable plaque.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Radiology
  • Biomedical Imaging

Background:

  • Vascular inflammation is strongly linked to coronary artery disease (CAD) risk.
  • Inflammation in coronary arteries alters cardiac adipose tissue, including epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) and pericoronary adipose tissue (PCAT).
  • Coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) can visualize these adipose tissues.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the biological characteristics of EAT and PCAT.
  • To summarize current literature on pericoronary adipose tissue (PCAT) attenuation as a marker for coronary inflammation.
  • To highlight PCAT attenuation's role in assessing coronary artery disease (CAD) risk.

Main Methods:

  • Review of randomized clinical trials and observational studies.
  • Analysis of coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) data.
  • Assessment of pericoronary adipose tissue (PCAT) radiodensity/attenuation.

Main Results:

  • PCAT attenuation on coronary CTA serves as an indirect measure of coronary inflammation.
  • Increased PCAT attenuation is associated with higher risk of major coronary events.
  • PCAT attenuation correlates with vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque phenotypes.

Conclusions:

  • Pericoronary adipose tissue (PCAT) attenuation is an emerging, non-invasive imaging marker for coronary inflammation and CAD risk.
  • Coronary CTA-derived PCAT attenuation offers valuable insights into CAD.
  • Further research supports PCAT attenuation as a surrogate marker in clinical practice.

Keywords:
adipose tissueatherosclerosiscomputed tomography coronary angiographycoronary artery diseasecoronary inflammationepicardial adipose tissuepericoronary adipose tissue

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