Computed tomography-based assessment of pericoronary adipose tissue in cardiovascular diseases: Diagnostic and prognostic implications.

Abstract

Pericoronary adipose tissue (PCAT) plays an important role in the pathogenesis and progression of cardiovascular diseases due to its bidirectional communication with the coronary artery wall. In recent years, PCAT parameters measured using coronary computed tomography have emerged as potential noninvasive imaging biomarkers for quantifying coronary artery inflammation, with significant clinical value in the early detection, disease progression assessment, treatment efficacy evaluation, and prognosis prediction of cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, new technologies such as PCAT radiomics analysis have broadened its potential applications in evaluating coronary plaque vulnerability, predicting cardiovascular events, and improving risk stratification. This review discusses recent advances in PCAT research, focusing on its role in coronary artery disease risk identification and inflammation monitoring, and aims to offer imaging-based insights to support its future clinical use in cardiovascular disease management.