EAT volume was independently measured by 1 operator with a quantitative semi-automated procedure using a postprocessing workstation—TeraRecon Aquarius Workstation (version 4.4.7, TeraRecon, Inc., San Mateo, CA, USA). We used a simplified method previously validated, performing a single slice measurement of EAT at the level of the left main coronary artery. This kind of evaluation proved to be an efficient and clinically practical measure, acting as a surrogate for total epicardial fat volume with prognostic relevance.19 (link),20 (link)Before imaging, metoprolol may have been used for heart rate control. The scans were performed using a 64-slice TOSHIBA Aquilion CXL CT scan.
A non-contrast-enhanced, prospective ECG-triggered image acquisition (collimation 3.0 mm × 4 mm; gantry rotation 1⁄2 250 ms; tube current 200 mA; tube voltage 120 kV) was performed at the 75% phase, and images were reconstructed using a slice thickness of 3 mm. We manually traced the pericardial outline at the level of the ostium of the left main coronary artery. The volume of tissue within the outlined boundary (ROI) with an attenuation of −250 to −30 HU was calculated (cm3). This process was repeated for each patient/CT (Figure 1 ). The same acquisitions were used for CAC score quantification using the Agatson score algorithm.
A non-contrast-enhanced, prospective ECG-triggered image acquisition (collimation 3.0 mm × 4 mm; gantry rotation 1⁄2 250 ms; tube current 200 mA; tube voltage 120 kV) was performed at the 75% phase, and images were reconstructed using a slice thickness of 3 mm. We manually traced the pericardial outline at the level of the ostium of the left main coronary artery. The volume of tissue within the outlined boundary (ROI) with an attenuation of −250 to −30 HU was calculated (cm3). This process was repeated for each patient/CT (