Computed Tomography (CT) Coronary Angiogram Evaluation in Cancer Patients Having CT Thorax, Abdomen and Pelvis

Feasibility of Computed Tomography (CT) Coronary Angiogram Evaluation in Cancer Patients Having CT Thorax, Abdomen and Pelvis (CT TAP)

Currently patients with certain cancer usually have routine follow up (Computed Tomography of Thorax, Abdomen and Pelvis) CT TAP scans to see response to treatment or relapse. The study proposal allows the evaluation of the coronary arteries by modifying the current CT TAP technique without significant additional procedures, intravenous contrast or radiation - i.e. an opportunistic Computed Tomography Coronary Angiogram (CTCA) without any penalty. The question is does performing Computed Tomography (CT) of the thorax in such a way confer important additional information about cardiac risk? At the same time the investigators need to ensure that doing scan as per CTCA protocol produces equivalent image quality to evaluate other structures in the chest. A recent small retrospective study has using a similar technique suggests that it may in fact improve image quality due to less cardiac related motion artefact.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Coronary Stenosis
• Intervention / Treatment: Radiation: CT TAP Scan

Detailed Description

The study is a non-inferiority observational study to primarily ensure that the Computed Tomography of Thorax, Abdomen and Pelvis (CT TAP) technique produces equivalent image quality of the lungs (hence the need to scan with both conventional technique and the Electrocardiograph [ECG] gated technique) and secondarily to evaluate the effectiveness of demonstrating the coronary arteries in this cohort of patients who have not received heart rate control.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 80

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United Kingdom
  • Devon
    • Plymouth, Devon, United Kingdom, PL6 8DH
      • Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust (PHNT)

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 40 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Patients having routine follow up cancer CT TAP scan

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients having routine follow up cancer CT TAP scan
• Age more than or equal to 40 years of age at the time of scan.
• Able to provide informed written consent
• Able to hold their breath for at least 10 seconds
• Has regular heart rate
• Able to follow verbal commands for breath holding and remain still for the duration of scanning
• Able to lie supine for the entirety of the scan

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patient unable to give informed consent.
• Patients unable to lie supine
• Patient not able to breath hold for at least 10 seconds.
• Patients not having regular heart rate. Patient with atrial fibrillation or >2 atrial or ventricular premature beats on a preoperative 12 lead ECG (suboptimal image quality results from irregular heart rhythms)
• Patient having eGFR <30, to avoid risk of contrast nephrotoxicity in patients potentially at risk) or chronic renal failure on dialysis
• Patient has known contrast reaction.
• Patient is pregnant.
• Patients BMI>35
• Unavailability of research slot to accommodate for the urgency of the scan requested.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Cohort
• Time Perspectives: Prospective

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
CT TAP scan; Suitable patients will be identified after consultant radiologists have approved a request for cancer routine CT TAP scan.	Radiation: CT TAP Scan; Modification of chest CT protocol in the routine CT TAP: The Research CT of Thorax will be acquired as per the routinely performed CTCA with inclusion of the lung apices. Therefore the study will be acquired axially with prospective gating.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Objective Image quality analysis	Calculating image noise as measured by standard deviation (SD) in a region of interest.	20 minutes
Objective Image quality analysis	Calculating contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR)	20 minutes
Subjective Image quality analysis	All image data sets will be presented in blinded and randomized manner to two experienced consultant radiologists. Subjective image quality will be assessed in terms of subjective image noise, subjective image contrast, lesion conspicuity, diagnostic confidence and artefacts. The image quality attributes are taken from the European Guidelines on Quality Criteria for Computerized Tomography document and have been proven to be robust in comparing subjective image quality.	20 minutes

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Dose estimation	The total exam dose-length product (DLP) displayed by the CT scanner at the end of each CTPA is recorded. The effective dose in mSv is calculated by multiplying the total DLP for each exam by the conversion coefficient for the chest of 0.014 (as taken from National Radiological Protection Board Document).	20 minutes
Coronary segments analysis	Image quality of the 4 main coronary arteries (left main, left anterior descending, left circumflex, and right coronary artery) was determined based on a 4-point grading system - Non-diagnostic; Adequate; Good; Excellent.	20minutes

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University Hospital Plymouth NHS Trust
• Investigators: Study Director: Carl Roobottom, MBChB FRCP, University Hospital Plymouth NHS Trust

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: October 1, 2015
• Primary Completion (Actual): February 1, 2016
• Study Completion (Actual): February 1, 2016

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 23, 2014
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 24, 2014
• First Posted (Estimate): October 27, 2014

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): May 24, 2016
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 23, 2016
• Last Verified: May 1, 2016

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: cancer patients; Computed Tomography of Thorax, Abdomen and Pelvis; coronary angiogram evaluation
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Myocardial Ischemia; Heart Diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases; Vascular Diseases; Coronary Disease; Coronary Stenosis
• Other Study ID Numbers: 14/P/152