Advantages of retrospective ECG-gating in cardio-thoracic imaging with 16-row multislice computed tomography.
OBJECTIVE
To test the added information of a retrospective ECG-gating to the 16-row Multislice Computed Tomography (MSCT) scan of intrathoracic vessels.


METHODS
Ninety-six patients (61 males, aged 59 +/- 20 years) underwent MSCT with a 16-row scanner (Sensation 16, Siemens, Germany) for the study of the thoracic vessels. In group 1 (66 patients) a retrospectively ECG-gated protocol was applied; in the control-group 2 (30 patients) a conventional MSCT protocol for thoracic imaging was applied. Images were scored regarding 1) presence or absence of artifacts determined by breath-hold, beam hardening and mis-triggering; 2) visualization (optimal, mild and poor) of great intrathoracic vessels (aorta, pulmonary arteries and veins); 3) visualization (presence or absence) of proximal, mid and distal coronary arteries (left main--LM, left anterior descending--LAD, circumflex--CX, and right coronary artery--RCA).


RESULTS
Ascending aorta showed motion artifacts in 7 (24%) cases in group 2 and 2 (4%) in group 1. In group 1, proximal LAD, CX, and RCA were assessable in 89%, 91%, and 89%, respectively. Left main coronary artery was assessable in 61 (92%) and 18 (60%) cases for group 1 and 2, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The retrospectively ECG-gated 16-row MSCT provides information regarding ascending aorta and coronary arteries not available in the conventional scan.
Cademartiri
Filippo
F
Department of Radiology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. filippocademartiri@hotmail.com
Pavone
Paolo
P
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*