Dear readers,
Chest pain is a common symptom worldwide and, given the potentially serious conditions that may underlie it, should always be considered a “red flag”. Because of the associated risks, a thorough and comprehensive diagnostic workup is essential to develop an appropriate differential diagnosis and identify the actual underlying pathology.
Supported by robust scientific evidence, coronary CT angiography (CCTA) has proven to be a highly valuable imaging modality for detecting the causes of chest pain and assessing their severity in both emergency and outpatient settings.
In the Edu-Slides featured in this Newsletter, Dr. Calvillo Batllés from La Fe University and Polytechnic Hospital in Valencia illustrates the most effective strategies for acquiring high-quality CT images to ensure reliable and safe evaluation of patients presenting with chest pain. Her presentation provides practical guidance on patient preparation, radiation dose optimization, protocol selection, contrast injection techniques, and solutions for artifact reduction.
In addition, the two scientific papers referenced below explore the potential benefits of complementing the CCTA-based diagnostic approach with CT perfusion and a deep learning model, respectively. Both studies aimed to maximize the diagnostic performance of CCTA in complex scenarios, particularly in patients presenting with acute chest pain.
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From the MDCT.net team
