Thoracic non-traumatic cardiovascular diseases: current perspective and multi-detectors Computed Tomography protocols...

Area of Science:

• Radiology and Imaging
• Cardiology
• Emergency Medicine

Background:

• Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a leading cause of emergency department visits and global mortality.
• Accurate and timely diagnosis is critical for effective CVD treatment, but non-specific symptoms and diagnostic delays pose challenges.
• Computed Tomography (CT) has emerged as a key imaging modality for ruling in or out CVDs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current applications of CT in managing cardiovascular diseases within the emergency department setting.
• To explore strategies for optimizing CT protocols to improve diagnostic performance and reduce variability.
• To highlight the importance of accurate diagnostic suspicion and pre-test probability assessment in CT accuracy for CVDs.

Main Methods:

• This narrative review analyzes existing literature on the role of CT in diagnosing CVDs in the ED.
• It examines various CT imaging techniques and protocols relevant to cardiac, aortic, and pulmonary circulations.
• Strategies for CT protocol optimization, including image quality enhancement and variability reduction, are discussed.

Main Results:

• CT plays a significant role in the rapid rule-in and rule-out of cardiovascular diseases in emergency settings.
• Effective CT utilization requires tailored protocols based on the suspected cardiovascular condition and affected anatomical region.
• CT protocol optimization is essential for improving diagnostic accuracy and consistency in CVD assessment.

Conclusions:

• Computed Tomography is an indispensable tool in the emergency department for diagnosing cardiovascular diseases.
• Standardizing and optimizing CT protocols are crucial for enhancing diagnostic confidence and patient outcomes.
• Integrating pre-test probability assessment with optimized CT imaging improves the diagnostic yield for CVDs.