Research advances in CT imaging features of pericoronary adipose tissue in coronary artery disease
WANG Zhengye
XU Zhigao
Abstract：Pericoronary adipose tissue(PCAT)is located around the coronary arteries,adjacent to the adventitia,and exhib-its a bidirectional interaction mechanism with the coronary arterial wall.PCAT can secrete bioactive chemicals through paracrine and endocrine pathways,mediating immune-inflammatory responses in the coronary arteries.Under physiological conditions,PCAT exerts a protective effect on the coronary arteries;however,in pathological states,it contributes to the development of coronary artery disease.Conversely,when coronary arteries become diseased,they also influence PCAT by releasing inflamma-tory factors.Imaging features of PCAT derived from coronary computed tomography angiography(CCTA)demonstrate unique value in predicting vulnerable plaques and plaque progression,assessing hemodynamic changes in diseased vessels,evaluating the occurrence and development of acute coronary syndromes,prognosticating coronary heart disease,and identifying in-stent re-stenosis,which can offer new insights for optimizing the identification and risk stratification of the condition.
Keywords：Coronary CT-angiographyCoronary heart diseasePericoronary adipose tissue
Publication Date：2026-01-30
Online Publishing Date：2026-03-20(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：5( 166-170 )