Measurements of myocardial bridges on computed tomography predict presence of clinical symptoms and outcomes of adverse heart events: a retrospective study in a large population from China

Acta Radiol. 2017 Sep;58(9):1068-1076. doi: 10.1177/0284185116682380. Epub 2016 Dec 14.

Abstract

Background Clinical-radiological correlation of myocardial bridge (MB) remains unclear. Purpose To correlate clinical symptoms and outcomes of MBs with computed tomography (CT) coronary angiography findings. Material and Methods A total of 2092 patients with CT coronary angiography were collected. Patients were divided into symptomatic and asymptomatic groups, adverse heart events (AHE) and non-AHE groups, MB and non-MB groups, as well as left anterior descending (LAD)-MB and non-LAD-MB groups. Statistical analyses were performed to identify inter-group differences, and clinical-radiological correlations of MBs or mural coronary arteries (MCAs). Results The prevalence of MB, the MCA stenosis either in systole or in diastole, and the ratio of LAD-MB were significantly higher in the symptomatic group than in the asymptomatic group, and higher in the AHE group than in the non-AHE group ( P all <0.05). MB thickness, systolic MCA stenosis, and diastolic MCA stenosis were independent variables predicting clinical symptoms ( P < 0.05), with diastolic MCA stenosis having the highest diagnostic performance, when cutting at 24.6%. The corresponding sensitivity and specificity were 87.8% and 90.6%, respectively. Diastolic MCA stenosis independently indicated outcome of AHE (odds ratio, 1.047; P < 0.001). Conclusion Measurements of MB-MCA by CT predict the presence of clinical symptoms and outcomes of AHE, with diastolic MCA stenosis possessing the greatest performance.

Keywords: Myocardial bridge; computed tomography (CT); dual-source CT; mural coronal artery.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • China
  • Computed Tomography Angiography / methods*
  • Coronary Angiography / methods*
  • Electrocardiography
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Myocardial Bridging / diagnostic imaging*
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Sensitivity and Specificity