Cardiac CT in the Diagnosis and Postoperative Assessment of Congenital Heart Disease

Abstract

Patients with complex congenital heart disease require serial diagnostic evaluation throughout their lives. Although echocardiography and cardiac MRI are the primary modes of evaluation in the current era, cardiac computed tomography (CT) plays an increasingly important role for specific indications. The high temporal and spatial resolution of the most modern CT scanners used for cardiac imaging allows for rapid, high quality image acquisition. The decreased need for sedation and anesthesia combined with recent developments markedly reducing radiation exposure make it an ideal imaging modality for certain indications in congenital heart disease. This article will briefly review the current use of noninvasive diagnostics in congenital heart disease, focusing on the use of CT for the most common congenital heart lesions referred for surgical intervention. When used appropriately, CT angiography (CTA) can provide critical information necessary to care for patients with congenital heart disease who require evaluation in addition to echocardiography.