Evaluation of Coronary Artery Calcification Using Gated Stationary Chest Tomosynthesis

The proposed research, if successfully implemented, will result in a new method for evaluating coronary artery calcium scores (CACS) in individuals with coronary artery disease. Using the Cardiac Gated Stationary Chest Tomosynthesis (CG-SDCT) system the imaging dose for a a full tomosynthesis scan is expected to be only 10% of that from a low-dose CT. The targeted imaging time of 25-30 seconds is 1/2 of that from a current commercial DCT system at the same imaging dose. As with current commercial DCT systems, our s-DCT system will expose patients to less radiation and deliver comparable data for CACS. CG-SDCT will likely result in accurate CAC scoring and allow for a more complete patient risk assessment as compared to Framingham risk scoring alone.

Inclusion criteria

• Age range: ≥18 years of age
• Intermediate Framingham Risk Score of 10 to 20% risk over the next 10 years
• Previous non-contrast enhanced chest CT in a time frame that will accommodate experimental imaging (CG-SDCT) within 4 weeks. This imaging may have already been completed at the time of enrollment or may be scheduled in the future at the time of enrollment.
• IRB written informed consent obtained and signed Exclusion Criteria
• Negative urine pregnancy test in women of child-bearing potential (WCBP) within 1 week prior to s-DCT.

Exclusion criteria

• Unable to provide consent
• Pregnant or lactating
• BMI > 33 (Patient who may not fit on a 35 x 35 detector) (Images are not clear on subjects who have a greater than 33 BMI)
• Previous history of MI or thoracic surgery.
• Disability that could interfere with the scanning process, non-ambulatory or unable to hold their breath for up to 30 seconds.
• Planned procedures or therapies in between non-contrast CT scan and study Chest tomosynthesis scan, e.g., line placement in the chest region, biopsy, etc.