Multi-modality imaging: Bird's eye view from the 2020 American Heart Association Scientific Sessions

Abstract

This review summarizes key imaging studies that were presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2020, which occurred virtually this year due to the pandemic, related to the fields of single-photon emission computed tomography, positron emission tomography, cardiac computed tomography, cardiac magnetic resonance, and echocardiography. The aim of this bird's eye view is to inform readers of the various studies discussed at the meeting from these imaging modalities. Since there was no physical attendance this year, we find that a general overview of imaging will be especially useful. Further, we hope that the presentation of multiple imaging studies in a single synthesized review will stimulate new ideas for future research in imaging.

Keywords: CAD; amyloid heart disease; heart failure; inflammation; myocardial ischemia and infarction; sarcoid heart disease.

Figure 1

Probability of heart failure death (HFD), arrhythmic events (ArE), survival (no events) against 123I-MIBG heart-to-mediastinum ratio (HMR). Reproduced with permission from Ref.

Figure 2

A Survival rates in patients with isolated TR, based on whether the effective regurgitant orifice (ERO) is less than or at least .4 cm². Of note, an ERO ≥ .4 cm² denotes severe TR. Each line represents survival rates (± SE) at 5 and 10 years of follow-up. B Incidence of combined outcome of cardiac death or heart failure in patients with isolated TR, based on the ERO (severe TR with an ERO ≥ .4 cm² vs. trivial-moderate TR with an ERO < .4 cm²). Each line represents cardiac event rates (± SE) at 5 and 10 years. Reprinted with permission from Ref.

Figure 3

Kaplan–Meier survival curves showing rates of survival free of new-onset atrial fibrillation in patients with HCM and left atrial (LA) diameter less than 45 mm. A LA volume cutoff of 37 mL/m² and a LA strain of 23.4% have been shown to serve as independent predictors. Reprinted with permission from Ref.

Figure 4

No evidence of differences in any of the individual key secondary outcomes relating to all-cause death, or non-fatal myocardial infarction between CCTA and standard of care in intermediate or high-risk patients presenting to the Emergency Department with suspected or provisionally diagnosed acute coronary syndrome. Figure is based on data from Ref.