title: Visualization of neonatal coronary arteries on multidetector row CT: ECG-gated versus non-ECG-gated technique.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Multidetector CT (MDCT) seems to be a promising tool for detection of neonatal coronary arteries, but whether the ECG-gated or non-ECG-gated technique should be used has not been established.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare the detection rate and image quality of neonatal coronary arteries on MDCT using ECG-gated and non-ECG-gated techniques.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve neonates with complex congenital heart disease were included. The CT scan was acquired using an ECG-gated technique, and the most quiescent phase of the RR interval was selected to represent the ECG-gated images. The raw data were then reconstructed without the ECG signal to obtain non-ECG-gated images. The detection rate and image quality of nine coronary artery segments in the two sets of images were then compared. A two-tailed paired t test was used with P values <0.05 considered as statistically significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all coronary segments the ECG-gated technique had a better detection rate and produced images of better quality. The difference between the two techniques ranged from 25% in the left main coronary artery to 100% in the distal right coronary artery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For neonates referred for MDCT, if evaluation of coronary artery anatomy is important for the clinical management or surgical planning, the ECG-gated technique should be used because it can reliably detect the coronary arteries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, No. 160, Sec. 3, Taichung Harbor Road, Taichung, 407, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: I-Chen
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Tain
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Min-Chi
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yun-Ching
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Sheng-Lin
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Jan
authors.forename: Chung-Chi
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yen
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D003330:Coronary Vessel Anomalies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*