• M H Maurer, E Zimmermann, P Schlattmann, C Germershausen, B Hamm, and Marc Dewey.
• Department of Radiology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
• Eur Radiol. 2012 Jan 1; 22 (1): 59-72.

ObjectivesTo obtain an overview of the current clinical practice of cardiac computed tomography (CT).MethodsA 32-item questionnaire was mailed to a total of 750 providers of cardiac CT in 57 countries.ResultsA total of 169 questionnaires from 38 countries were available for analysis (23%). Most CT systems used (94%, 207/221) were of the latest generation (64-row or dual-source CT). The most common indications for cardiac CT was exclusion of coronary artery disease (97%, 164/169). Most centres used beta blockade (91%, 151/166) and sublingual nitroglycerine (80%, 134/168). A median slice thickness of 0.625 mm with a 0.5-mm increment and an 18-cm reconstruction field of view was used. Interpretation was most often done using source images in orthogonal planes (92%, 155/169). Ninety percent of sites routinely evaluate extracardiac structures on a large (70%) or cardiac field of view (20%). Radiology sites were significantly more interested in jointly performing cardiac CT together with cardiology than cardiologists. The mean examination time was 18.6 ± 8.4 min, and reading took on average 28.7 ± 17.8 min.ConclusionsCardiac CT has rapidly become established in clinical practice, and there is emerging consensus regarding indications, conduct of the acquisition, and reading.

23 keywords...

hide…