Computed Fractional Flow Reserve (FFTCT) Derived from Coronary CT Angiography

Christopher K. Zarins, Charles A. Taylor, James K. Min
2013 Journal of Cardiovascular Translational Research  
Recent advances in image-based modeling and computational fluid dynamics permit the calculation of coronary artery pressure and flow from typically acquired coronary computed tomography (CT) scans. Computed fractional flow reserve is the ratio of mean coronary artery pressure divided by mean aortic pressure under conditions of simulated maximal coronary hyperemia, thus providing a noninvasive estimate of fractional flow reserve (FFR CT ) at every point in the coronary tree. Prospective
more » ... er clinical trials have shown that computed FFR CT improves diagnostic accuracy and discrimination compared to CT stenosis alone for the diagnosis of hemodynamically significant coronary artery disease (CAD), when compared to invasive FFR as the reference gold standard. This promising new technology provides a combined anatomic and physiologic assessment of CAD in a single noninvasive test that can help select patients for invasive angiography and revascularization or best medical therapy. Further evaluation of the clinical effectiveness and economic implications of noninvasive FFR CT are now being explored. Keywords Fractional flow reserve . Computational fluid dynamics . Coronary computed tomographic angiography . Noninvasive cardiac imaging Abbreviations CAD Coronary artery disease CCTA Coronary computed tomographic angiography ICA Invasive coronary angiography CT Computed tomography FFR Fractional flow reserve FFR CT FFR derived from coronary computed tomography PCI Percutaneous coronary intervention AUC Area under the receiver operating characteristic
doi:10.1007/s12265-013-9498-4 pmid:23934536 pmcid:PMC3790916 fatcat:2sggb6ldgzftjfrmh67k66326u