Cardiac 64

Examinations were performed with either Somatom Sensation Cardiac16 or Cardiac 64 scanner (Siemens Medical Solutions, Germany), Ten noncontrast examinations, and 31 contrast-enhanced scans in which patients received 2 mL/kg of nonionic contrast medium (300 mL I/mL). Examinations on 16- and 64-slices scanners were performed with 0.75 and 0.6 mm collimation, respectively. Images with the slice thickness of 5 mm were used for routine axial viewing. MPR and 3D images were reconstructed at 1 mm thickness. Standard soft-tissue (eg, width 400–450 H, level 40–50 H) and bone (eg, width 1000 −2000 H; level, 300 to −500 H) window settings were used to displayed all images.

Single-energy CT was performed in all patients on different CT scanners (NAEOTOM Alpha, SOMATOM Force, SOMATOM Definition AS, SOMATOM Edge Plus, Cardiac64 or SOMATOM Definition Flash; Siemens Healthcare, Forchheim, Germany and Brilliance 16P, Philips, Amsterdam, The Netherlands) with or without the application of an intravenous contrast agent in supine position at full inspiration. No specific post-COVID-19 protocol was applied. The protocol depended on the referral question. In a subset of patients where expiratory CT in prone position was available, the scans were additionally analyzed. CT scans were performed at 80 to 120 kVp with varying tube currents and a pitch of 1–1.2. Images were reconstructed at a slice thickness of 0.75–2 mm using iterative reconstruction algorithms.