• Ludovico La Grutta, Patrizia Toia, Alfonso Farruggia, Domenico Albano, Emanuele Grassedonio, Antonella Palmeri, Erica Maffei, Massimo Galia, Salvatore Vitabile, Filippo Cademartiri, and Massimo Midiri.
• 1 Department of Radiology, DIBIMED, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
• Br J Radiol. 2016 Jun 1; 89 (1062): 20150773.

ObjectiveThe aim of the study was to compare epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) characteristics assessed with coronary calcium score (CS) and CT coronary angiography (CTCA) image data sets.MethodsIn 76 patients (mean age 59 ± 13 years) who underwent CS and CTCA owing to suspected coronary artery disease (CAD), EAT was quantified in terms of density (Hounsfield units), thickness and volume. The EAT volume was extracted with a semi-automatic software.ResultsA moderate correlation was found between EAT density in CS and CTCA image data sets (-100 ± 19 HU vs -70 ± 24 HU; p < 0.05, r = 0.55). The distribution of EAT was not symmetrical with a maximal thickness at the right atrioventricular groove (14.2 ± 5.3 mm in CS, 15.7 ± 5 mm in CTCA; p > 0.05, r = 0.76). The EAT volume resulted as 122 ± 50 cm(3) in CS and 86 ± 40 cm(3) in CTCA (Δ = 30%, p < 0.05, r = 0.92). After adjustment for post-contrast EAT attenuation difference (Δ = 30 HU), the volume was 101 ± 47 cm(3) (Δ = 17%, p < 0.05, r = 0.92). Based on EAT volume median values, no differences were found between groups with smaller and larger volumes in terms of Agatston score and CAD severity.ConclusionCS and CTCA image data sets may be equally employed for EAT assessment; however, an underestimation of volume is found with the latter acquisition even after post-contrast attenuation adjustment.Advances In KnowledgeEAT may be measured by processing either the CS or CTCA image data sets.

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