Effects of using oral nitroderivatives (NTG) in coronary computer tomography angiography (CCTA). Comparison between pre-medicated and naive patients: a prospective monocentric study.

Purpose or Learning Objective To evaluate the benefit of using NTG in CCTA, regarding coronary diameter, vessel attenuation, and number of evaluable coronary segments. Methods or Background Ninety-eight patients were prospectively enrolled from February to September 2021 and were randomly divided into two groups: Group A received NTG and Group B without NTG. All patients underwent CCTA and received 60 ml of Iomeprolo 400 at flow rate of 5 ml/s. Scanning parameters were the same among the two groups. Exclusion criteria were: elevated heart rate or motion artifact. Two blinded radiologists analyzed the images. The maximum axial diameter of the three main coronary arteries, vessel attenuation and number of evaluable coronary segments was measured. Regions of interest (ROIs) were also drawn in all coronary segments and vessel attenuation and image noise was recorded for all coronary segments to calculate contrast-to-noise (CNR) and signal-to-noise (SNR). Results were analyzed using nonparametric statistical tests for independent samples. Results or Findings Main coronary arteries showed significantly larger diameters in Group A compared to Group B (3.38 vs 3.02 mm, p<0.001), as well as different number of evaluable coronary segments (14.3 vs 12.4, p<0.01). No significant differences were reported among the two groups in terms of vessel attenuation, SNR and CNR (all p>0.05). Conclusion NTG improves image quality of coronary segments providing larger diameters and more valuable segments, without affecting the image quality.