Thoracic cardiovascular imaging with 16-row multislice Computed Tomography and retrospective ECG-gating. Technical note.
OBJECTIVE
To apply the retrospective ECG-gating to the 16-row MSCT scan of intrathoracic vessels.


METHODS
Fourty-eight patients underwent MSCT with a new 16-row scanner (Sensation 16-Siemens) for the study of the great intrathoracic vessels. In group 1 (33 patients) a retrospectively ECG-gated protocol was applied; in the control-group 2 (15 patients) a conventional MSCT protocol for thoracic imaging was applied. Images were scored regarding 1) the presence or absence of artefacts determined by breath-hold, beam hardening and mis-triggering; 2) the visualisation (optimal, mild and poor) of great intrathoracic vessels (aorta, pulmonary arteries and veins); 3) the visualisation (presence or absence) of proximal, mid and distal coronary arteries (left main, left anterior descending, circumflex, and right coronary artery).


RESULTS
Ascending aorta showed motion artefacts in 3 (20%) cases in group 2 and none in group 1. In group 1, proximal LAD, CX, and RCA were assessable in 94%, 91%, and 91%, respectively. Left main coronary artery was assessable in 32 (97%) and 10 (67%) cases for group 1 and 2, respectively. In group 2, proximal segments of left anterior descending (LAD), circumflex (CX), and right coronary artery (RCA), were almost not assessable.


CONCLUSIONS
The retrospectively ECG-gated 16-row MSCT provides more information regarding ascending aorta and coronary arteries.
Cademartiri
Filippo
F
Dipartimento di Radiologia, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. filippocademartiri@hotmail.com
Runza
Giuseppe
G
Marano
Riccardo
R
Luccichenti
Giacomo
G
Midiri
Massimo
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001027:Aortography / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D016477:Artifacts; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011667:Pulmonary Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012984:Software; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods