Cardiovascular Computed Tomography

Recent years have seen a marked increase in cardiovascular computed tomography (CT) imaging, with the technique now integrated into many imaging guidelines, such as those published by ESC and NICE. Rapid clinical and technological progress has created a need for guidance on the practical aspects of CT image acquisition, analysis and interpretation.

The Oxford Specialist Handbook of Cardiovascular CT, now revised for the second edition by practising international experts with many years of hands-on experience, is designed to fulfil this need. The Handbook is a practical guide on performing, analysing and interpreting cardiovascular CT scans, covering all aspects from patient safety to optimal image acquisition to differential diagnoses of tricky images. It takes an international approach to both accreditation and certification, highlighting British, European, and American examinations and courses.

The format is designed to be accessible and is laid out in easy to navigate sections. It is meant as a quick-reference guide, to live near the CT scanner, workstation, or on the office shelf. The Handbook is aimed at all cardiovascular CT users (Cardiologists, Radiologists and Radiographers), particularly those new to cardiovascular CT, although even the advanced user should find useful tips and tricks within.

James Stirrup, Consultant Cardiologist, Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, Reading, UK, Michelle Williams, Clinical Lecturer in Cardiothoracic Radiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK, Russell Bull, Consultant Radiologist, Royal Bournemouth Hospital, Bournemouth, UK, Ed Nicol, Consultant Cardiologist and Head of Cardiovascular CT, Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK

Dr James Stirrup is a Consultant Cardiologist at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust. His specialist interests include echocardiography, cardiac computed tomogaphy, and nuclear cardiology. He is a Diplomate of the US Certification Boards of Nuclear Cardiology and Cardiac Computed Tomography and a Fellow of the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography. In 2014, he was awarded the National Heart and Lung Institute Thesis Prize for research carried out at the Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Trust on myocardial applications of cardiac computed tomography.

Dr Michelle Williams is Clinical Lecturer in Cardiothoracic Radiology with the University of Edinburgh. She undertook a British Heart Foundation Clinical Research Fellowship and successfully defended her PhD on computed tomography imaging of the heart at the University of Edinburgh. Her research interests include CT coronary angiography, CT myocardial perfusion imaging, magnetic resonance angiography and molecular imaging of atherosclerotic plaque. She is research fellow for the SCOT-HEART study, a multicenter randomized control trial of the role of CT imaging in patients attending the outpatient cardiology clinics. This work has been awarded numerous prizes. Recently her work has been part of the research group's successful awards of the "BMJ Imaging Team of the Year" and the "Queens Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education". She is a member of the British Society of Cardiovascular Imaging executive committee, amongst others.

Dr Bull was appointed at Royal Bournemouth Hospital in 2000. Prior to Radiology training in Cambridge he worked at Royal Brompton Hospital and Cleveland Clinic. He set up one of the first cardiac CT services in 2003 and introduced a cardiac MRI service in 2005. Royal Bournemouth Hospital is now one of the largest 'general hospital' cardiac CT and MRI units in the UK. Dr Bull has been heavily involved in developing software and hardware to make cardiac CT and MRI easier, faster and more robust. Dr Bull is currently president elect of the British Society of Cardiovascular Imaging (BSCI).

Dr Ed Nicol is a Consultant Cardiologist and the Head of Cardiovascular CT at Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Foundation Trust, as well as holding the position of Honorary Senior Lecturer at Imperial College, London (Cardiology), and Keele University (Healthcare Leadership). He has published over 120 original papers, book chapters and books covering cardiovascular CT. He is also the Chair of the SCCT Education committee, and is the past President of the British Society of Cardiovascular Imaging and British Society of Cardiovascular CT.