Sunday, November 29 | 12:30 p.m.-1:00 p.m. | CA210-SD-SUA1 | Lakeside Learning Center, Station 1
In this study, Dr. Gianluca Pontone and colleagues from Centro Cardiologico Monzino in Milan compared two demographically similar groups using CT of the left atrium with first- and second-generation iterative reconstruction.3D CT has improved the performance of radiofrequency catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation, thanks to improved reconstruction of the left atrium anatomy. However, the radiation dose is high.
In the past several years, first-generation iterative reconstruction techniques have further improved the results of radiofrequency catheter ablation by reducing the dose required to obtain high-quality images. The researchers decided to investigate how much further a second-generation iterative reconstruction scheme could improve the results.
For 120 patients, they looked at image noise, signal-to-noise ratio, contrast-to-noise ratio, characteristics of the ablation procedure, and the rate of atrial fibrillation recurrence, as well as the radiation dose between the two groups. They found improved results with the newer iterative reconstruction in several aspects, including a reduced rate of atrial fibrillation recurrence and a 94% reduction in dose, compared with the first-generation method.
"The use of new-generation iterative reconstruction algorithms ... allows the possibility to image the left atrium with less than 0.5 mSv without negative impact of outcomes, opening the possibility of extensive use of this technique," Pontone told AuntMinnie.com.
![Axial images from unenhanced calcium score cardiac CT (left) and curved planar reformation images from CT angiography (right) show that higher long-term exposure to air pollution is associated with greater coronary artery calcium and more obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD). Top row: Images in a 68-year-old male patient with higher 10-year mean ambient air pollution exposure (7.9 μg/m3 for particulate matter measuring ≤2.5 μm in diameter [PM2.5] and 17.4 parts per billion [ppb] for NO2) with extensive CAD (coronary artery calcium score [CACS] >1,000 and obstructive CAD [≥70% diameter stenosis]). Bottom row: Images in a 57-year-old female patient with lower 10-year mean ambient air pollution exposure (6.3 μg/m3 for PM2.5 and 4.6 ppb for NO2) with no CAD (CACS = 0 and no obstructive stenosis).](https://img.auntminnie.com/mindful/smg/workspaces/default/uploads/2026/06/hanneman.r6SMLzkezo.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&dpr=2&fit=crop&h=167&q=70&w=250)
