title: CT of cardiac function.
abstract: Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) can play a role in diagnosis of coronary artery disease and in the assessment of left ventricle (LV) and right ventricle global function, with initial good correlation results with standard modalities. With the latest scanners, regional LV contractility with both qualitative and quantitative assessment has become possible. MDCT function evaluation by specific postprocessing software can be performed considering simultaneously different parameters plus the subjective visual perception of anomalies on 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional cine-loop models. MDCT's ability to make high-resolution 3-dimensional reconstructions throughout the cardiac cycle allows this imaging modality to evaluate both coronary and LV anatomy and morphology, and also LV functional parameters. The ability to provide functional information of the right ventricle represents another important application of MDCT both in patients with acute pulmonary embolism and with congenital cardiovascular disease. Initial results on accuracy are promising and the clinical applicability of MDCT should rapidly increase.
authors.affiliation: Radiology Department, Catholic University, Policlinico Gemelli, Rome.
authors.forename: Giancarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Savino
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zwerner
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Herzog
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Politi
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bonomo
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Costello
authors.forename: U Joseph
authors.initials: UJ
authors.lastname: Schoepf
mesh_terms: D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D016276:Ventricular Function / Q000502:physiology*