Correlation between epicardial adipose tissue and severity of coronary artery stenosis evaluated by 64-MDCT

PurposeThe purpose was to investigate the correlation between epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) thickness, EAT volume, and severity of coronary artery stenosis.MethodsWe retrospectively enrolled 188 patients that underwent coronary computed tomography (CT) angiography for clinically suspected coronary artery disease using 64-MDCT. Images were reconstructed using a retrospective electrocardiogram-gated algorithm with 0.625-mm-thick sections. EAT thickness and volume were calculated.ResultsThe coronary CT angiography showed 106 patients who had coronary artery pathology (178 lesions), 21 patients with moderate stenosis (27 lesions), 12 patients with severe stenosis (18 lesions), and 6 patients with complete occlusion (8 lesions). EAT thickness, EAT volume, and Gensini score were statistically different among groups (FT = 32.306, FV = 27.743, F = 110.483, P = .000). Pearson correlation analysis showed that Gensini score had significantly positive correlation with EAT thickness and volume, respectively.ConclusionEAT thickness and volume demonstrated a positive correlation with severity of coronary artery stenosis.