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Four‐dimensional analysis of cyclic changes in coronary artery shape
Author(s) -
Liao Robert,
Chen S.Y. James,
Messenger John C.,
Groves Bertron M.,
Burchenal J.E.B.,
Carroll John D.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
catheterization and cardiovascular interventions
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.988
H-Index - 116
eISSN - 1522-726X
pISSN - 1522-1946
DOI - 10.1002/ccd.10106
Subject(s) - medicine , artery , coronary arteries , right coronary artery , cardiology , circumflex , diastole , curvature , anatomy , geometry , coronary circulation , coronary angiography , blood pressure , myocardial infarction , mathematics , blood flow
Abstract The objective of this study was to derive a method for quantifying the dynamic geometry of coronary arteries. Coronary artery geometry plays an important role in atherosclerosis. Coronary artery geometry also influences the performance of coronary interventions. Conversely, implantation of stents may alter coronary artery geometry. Clinical tools to define vessel shape have not been readily available. Using a Frenet‐Serret curvature analysis applied to 3D reconstruction data derived from standard coronary angiograms, 21 coronary arteries were analyzed at end‐diastole (ED) and end‐systole (ES). Vessels were divided anatomically: type 1 consisted of vessels lying in the AV groove (left circumflex, right coronary) and type 2 consisted of vessels overlying actively contracting myocardium (left anterior descending, diagonal, obtuse marginal, right ventricular marginal, posterior descending, posterolateral). Vessel segments were analyzed by assessing the changes in curvature, torsion, and discrete flexion points (FPs), areas of systolic bending in the arterial contour. The curvature from ED to ES of type 1 vessels was unchanged (−0.02 ± 0.03 cm −1 ), while the curvature change of type 2 vessels showed a 38% increase (0.33 ± 0.04 cm −1 ; P < 0.001). Type 1 vessels had fewer FPs per vessel than type 2 vessels (0.38 ± 0.18 and 2.40 ± 0.23 FP/vessel, respectively; P < 0.001). FPs were more common in distal segments and branch vessels. A method to quantify cyclic changes in coronary artery shape was applied to 3D data sets derived from standard coronary angiograms. Coronary arteries undergo a cyclic change in shape resulting in changes in overall curvature as well as formation of discrete flexion points. These changes in vessel shape are asymmetrically distributed in coronary arteries. Cathet Cardiovasc Intervent 2002;55:344–354. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.