[Diagnostic value of CT in congenital disorders of the great vessels].
Computed tomographic (CT) studies of the cardiovascular system were performed on 850 cases at our institute during the last five years. The aorta was clearly demonstrated by CT from the aortic root to the bifurcation of the iliac artery, and in most cases the main aortic branches including the coronary, brachiocephalic, common carotid, subclavian, celiac, superior mesenteric, renal and iliac arteries were satisfactorily evaluated (Fig. 1-3). Therefore CT renders us encouraging to detect the abnormality of these arteries. This paper described the CT findings of congenital anomalies of the great vessels in 14 patients with 16 anomalies including two cases of l-corrected transposition of the great vessels, two of double aortic arch, one of aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva, six of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) and five of right-sided descending aorta, two of which had double aortic arch aforementioned and the remaining three had dextrocardia. The diagnosis of these abnormalities except for PDA were made only by CT. For instance, l-corrected transposition of the great vessels was diagnosed easily by observing the side-to-side relationship of the great vessels, the aorta is situated to the left and anterior to the pulmonary artery. In the case of double aortic arch, not only the left and right aortic arch, but also the degree of narrowing as well as compression of the trachea and esophagus were well evaluated. The diagnosis of aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva was made by the characteristically marked dilatation of the aorta at the level of sinus of Valsalva on CT. Only in one case of PDA, the ductus connecting the descending aorta to the left pulmonary artery was demonstrated by CT. Plain CT was well tolerable, but enhanced CT was much more informative to detect cardiovascular abnormalities, and moreover, dynamic CT was rewarding in the detailed evaluation of blood flow in the cardiovascular system.
D000328:Adult; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004374:Ductus Arteriosus, Patent / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement; D012850:Sinus of Valsalva; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014188:Transposition of Great Vessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*