Abstract
BackgroundTo evaluate the ability of low radiation dose dual-source computed tomography (DSCT) to depict the features of morphological univentricular heart and to define accuracy by comparing findings with surgery.MethodsLow radiation dose dual-source cardiac computed tomography (CCT) of 33 cases of functional univentricular heart preliminary diagnosis by echocardiography compared with the results of surgery were retrospectively analyzed (aged 1 day to 4 years, median 5 months). The appropriate dose reduction strategies and iterative reconstruction were applied.ResultsThirty three univentricular heart patients were classified into three types according to Anderson’s classification method, including 16 cases (48.5%) univentricular of right ventricular type with rudimentary chamber of left ventricle, 11 cases (33.3%) univentricular of left ventricular type with rudimentary chamber of right ventricle and 6 cases (18.2%) univentricular heart of indeterminate type without rudimentary chamber. The extracardiac malformation such as hypoplastic aortic arch, coronary artery fistula, total anomalous pulmonary venous returns or hypoplastic lung were presented frequently. The overall sensitivity and specification of cardiac CT was 100% compared to the results of surgery. The procedural dose-length product was 18 ± 5 mGy-cm, and unadjusted and adjusted radiation doses were 0.25 and 0.64 mSv, respectively.ConclusionCardiac CT can diagnose accurately and be performed with a low radiation exposure in patients with the functional univentricular heart disease. The aorta, pulmonary artery and lung can be evaluated completely and simultaneously as well. Cardiac CT is an effective advanced non-invasive imaging modality to comprehensive evaluation the functional univentricular heart patients, particularly if cardiac MRI poses a high risk or is contraindicated.
Highlights
To evaluate the ability of low radiation dose dual-source computed tomography (DSCT) to depict the features of morphological univentricular heart and to define accuracy by comparing findings with surgery
Echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) are the main imaging modalities used in adult patients with complex congenital heart disease
Cardiac Computed tomography (CT) has been shown to be accurate for the evaluation of anatomy and function for most indications of congenital heart disease (CHD), [11] but there has not been a report on image quality, nor has a correlation been made with interventional findings, in a cohort of single-ventricle patients across all stages of palliation
Summary
To evaluate the ability of low radiation dose dual-source computed tomography (DSCT) to depict the features of morphological univentricular heart and to define accuracy by comparing findings with surgery. Echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) are the main imaging modalities used in adult patients with complex congenital heart disease. Many older patients have metallic implants with an artifact that degrades magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) quality [6] It is relatively contraindicated in those with pacemakers and defibrillators as these devices have been known to cause an imaging artifact [7]. Cardiac CT has been shown to be accurate for the evaluation of anatomy and function for most indications of congenital heart disease (CHD), [11] but there has not been a report on image quality, nor has a correlation been made with interventional findings, in a cohort of single-ventricle patients across all stages of palliation
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