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. 2000 Oct;84(4):442–448. doi: 10.1136/heart.84.4.442

Non-invasive coronary artery imaging with electron beam computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging

P J de Feyter 1, K Nieman 1, P van Ooijen 1, M Oudkerk 1
PMCID: PMC1729448  PMID: 10995423

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Figure 1:  .

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Spin angular moment causing a magnetic dipole. Bo, external magnetic field which causes spin to precess at an angle to Bo. M, net tissue magnetisation aligned along Z axis.

Figure 2:  .

Figure 2:  

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The patient (heart) is placed within a strong external magnetic field (Bo). The RF transmitter rotates the net tissue magnetisation in the transverse plane, and after termination, relaxation occurs which emits a signal detected by the RF receiver. The gradient coils produce a supplemental magnetic field gradient to allow precise location of the excited protons. The received signals have certain signal intensity (brightness) and location, both of which are processed to form the desired image.

Figure 3:  .

Figure 3:  

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Visualisation of the right coronary artery with (A) a fast sequence MR coronary angiography technique, and (B) three dimensional reconstruction. Two significant stenoses are clearly visible.

Figure 4:  .

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Computer display of the MASS analytical software package. The small images along the bottom represent the individual frames over a cardiac cycle at a certain anatomical level. The left ventricular endocardial and epicardial contours were generated using semiautomatic contour detection. From the contours in all the frames and slices, a three dimensional model can be reconstructed that can also be used as a functional display representing regional wall thickening/thinning. Reproduced from van der Geest et al. J Comput Assist Tomogr 1997;21:756-65, with permission of the publishers.

Figure 5:  .

Figure 5:  

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Schematic of EBT scanning to reconstruct a three dimensional image. ID, one dimensional; 2D, two dimensional; 3D, 3 dimensional.

Figure 6:  .

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EBT of coronary arteries with view from top (B), from a more anterior angle (C), and from a lateral angle (D). The left circumflex (CX) artery is totally occluded. A: corresponding coronary angiography. AO, aorta; INT, intermediate coronary branch; LAD, left anterior descending coronary artery; RCA, right coronary artery, RVOT, right ventricular outflow tract.

Figure 7:  .

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Visualisation of sequential venous bypass graft without significant stenoses.

Figure 8:  .

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Example of coronary calcification score. Blue dots in the left anterior descending artery represent calcification.

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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