Visualization of neonatal coronary arteries on multidetector row CT: ECG-gated versus non-ECG-gated technique.
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.
Tsai
I-Chen
IC
Department of Radiology, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, No. 160, Sec. 3, Taichung Harbor Road, Taichung, 407, Taiwan, Republic of China.
Lee
Tain
T
Chen
Min-Chi
MC
Fu
Yun-Ching
YC
Jan
Sheng-Lin
SL
Wang
Chung-Chi
CC
Chang
Yen
Y
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*