open access

Vol 73, No 4 (2014)
Original article
Submitted: 2014-04-09
Accepted: 2014-06-03
Published online: 2014-11-28
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Fatty foci within the heart and the accompanying changes in the coronary arteries diagnosed in electrocardiogram-gated multislice computed tomography of the heart

M. Tomaszewska, E. Czekajsa-Chehab, G. Olchowik, M. Tomaszewski, A. Drop
DOI: 10.5603/FM.2014.0068
·
Folia Morphol 2014;73(4):455-461.

open access

Vol 73, No 4 (2014)
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Submitted: 2014-04-09
Accepted: 2014-06-03
Published online: 2014-11-28

Abstract

Background: The purpose of our study was to analyse the relationship between fatty foci within the heart and the accompanying changes in the coronary arteries supplying the relevant heart chambers in a large group of patients referred to multi-slice computed tomography with electrocardiogram-gating examinations (ECG-MSCT) for various clinical reasons.

Materials and methods: The ECG-MSCT examinations of 1,830 consecutive patients were analysed. The examinations were performed using 8-row (1,015 patients) and 64-row (815 patients) MSCT, in pre- and postcontrast scanning. In the group of patients with fatty foci within the heart the concomitant changes in the coronary arteries were assessed. It was analysed: the type of changes in the arteries; the relationship between the locations of the fatty deposits and the occurrence and type of changes in the coronary arteries.

Results: In 200 (10.9%) subjects fatty foci within the heart (112 men; 88 women; mean age 57.8) were detected. The distribution of the fat was as follows: right ventricle (RV) — 32.5%, left ventricle (LV) — 22.0%, biventricular — 45.5%. One hundred and seventy-two patients had concomitant changes in the coronary arteries. In patients with normal coronary arteries, significantly more often fatty deposits were localised within RV. Fat was primarily located subendocardially in the LV in patients with atherosclerosis in the left anterior descending artery (p < 0.001), in the right coronary artery (RCA) (p = 0.003), and in the left circumflex artery (LCX) (p < 0.001). Subpericardial locations of fatty deposits in RV significantly correlated with RCA bridging (p < 0.02); the subpericardial location of fat in LV significantly correlated with LCX bridging (p = 0.001).

Conclusions: Fatty replacement of the myocardium is common, occurring in up to 10% of diagnosed patients and the majority of this group had concomitant changes in the coronary arteries. However, in the group of patients without changes in the coronary arteries, the fatty deposits locate themselves significantly more frequently within the RV.

Abstract

Background: The purpose of our study was to analyse the relationship between fatty foci within the heart and the accompanying changes in the coronary arteries supplying the relevant heart chambers in a large group of patients referred to multi-slice computed tomography with electrocardiogram-gating examinations (ECG-MSCT) for various clinical reasons.

Materials and methods: The ECG-MSCT examinations of 1,830 consecutive patients were analysed. The examinations were performed using 8-row (1,015 patients) and 64-row (815 patients) MSCT, in pre- and postcontrast scanning. In the group of patients with fatty foci within the heart the concomitant changes in the coronary arteries were assessed. It was analysed: the type of changes in the arteries; the relationship between the locations of the fatty deposits and the occurrence and type of changes in the coronary arteries.

Results: In 200 (10.9%) subjects fatty foci within the heart (112 men; 88 women; mean age 57.8) were detected. The distribution of the fat was as follows: right ventricle (RV) — 32.5%, left ventricle (LV) — 22.0%, biventricular — 45.5%. One hundred and seventy-two patients had concomitant changes in the coronary arteries. In patients with normal coronary arteries, significantly more often fatty deposits were localised within RV. Fat was primarily located subendocardially in the LV in patients with atherosclerosis in the left anterior descending artery (p < 0.001), in the right coronary artery (RCA) (p = 0.003), and in the left circumflex artery (LCX) (p < 0.001). Subpericardial locations of fatty deposits in RV significantly correlated with RCA bridging (p < 0.02); the subpericardial location of fat in LV significantly correlated with LCX bridging (p = 0.001).

Conclusions: Fatty replacement of the myocardium is common, occurring in up to 10% of diagnosed patients and the majority of this group had concomitant changes in the coronary arteries. However, in the group of patients without changes in the coronary arteries, the fatty deposits locate themselves significantly more frequently within the RV.

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Keywords

ECG-MSCT, myocardium, fat, coronary arteries

About this article
Title

Fatty foci within the heart and the accompanying changes in the coronary arteries diagnosed in electrocardiogram-gated multislice computed tomography of the heart

Journal

Folia Morphologica

Issue

Vol 73, No 4 (2014)

Article type

Original article

Pages

455-461

Published online

2014-11-28

Page views

1118

Article views/downloads

1712

DOI

10.5603/FM.2014.0068

Bibliographic record

Folia Morphol 2014;73(4):455-461.

Keywords

ECG-MSCT
myocardium
fat
coronary arteries

Authors

M. Tomaszewska
E. Czekajsa-Chehab
G. Olchowik
M. Tomaszewski
A. Drop

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