Cardiovascular circulation and hepatic perfusion of pigs in 4-dimensional films evaluated by 256-slice cone-beam computed tomography.
BACKGROUND
In both cardiac and hepatic disorders it is desirable to accurately visualize the direction and scale of blood flow in the whole organ in pulsating 3-dimensional (D) images, which are known as 4-D images.


RESULTS
The present study used 256-slice cone-beam computed tomography (CT) (Athena, Sony-Toshiba) at one rotation per second and a section thickness of 0.5 mm to show the dynamics of cardiovascular circulation and hepatic perfusion by contrast injection in 4-D films of pigs. Four pigs (20 kg each) were anesthetized with isoflurane. The distal tips of the catheters were positioned in the inferior vena cava (IVC) (pigs 1-3) and in the proper hepatic artery (pig 4). Volumetric scanning and injection of contrast material were started simultaneously and continued for 25 s with image reconstruction at 1-s intervals. In pigs 1-3, 4-D filming revealed the dynamics of cardiovascular circulation, first in the IVC, followed by the right ventricle and pulmonary artery, then the left ventricle, left atrium, pulmonary vein, and finally, the right heart disappeared and only the left heart and aorta remained visible. In pig 4, the hepatic arterial trees, followed by the venous trees, could be easily visualized in turn on the 4-D images.


CONCLUSIONS
This technology successfully demonstrated cardiovascular circulation and hepatic perfusion in 4-D and will have clinical applicability.
Funabashi
Nobusada
N
Department of Cardiovascular Science and Medicine, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan. nobusada@ma.kcom.ne.jp
Yoshida
Katsuya
K
Tadokoro
Hiroyuki
H
Nakagawa
Keiichi
K
Komiyama
Nobuyuki
N
Odaka
Kenichi
K
Tsunoo
Takanori
T
Mori
Shinichiro
S
Tanada
Shuji
S
Endo
Masahiro
M
Komuro
Issei
I
D000818:Animals; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D008099:Liver / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D010477:Perfusion; D034421:Sus scrofa; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods