Multidetector CT evaluation of total anomalous pulmonary venous connections: comparison with echocardiography.
BACKGROUND
Although echocardiography is the first-line imaging modality in the diagnosis of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC), multidetector CT (MDCT) could have advantages in the diagnosis of TAPVC in certain cases.


OBJECTIVE
To compare MDCT with echocardiography in the evaluation of TAPVC.


METHODS
Enrolled in the study were 23 patients with surgically proven TAPVC. The echocardiography and MDCT findings were independently interpreted by a paediatric cardiologist and cardiac radiologist in terms of: (1) the drainage site of the common pulmonary vein, (2) stenosis of the vertical vein, and (3) the course of the atypical vessel into the systemic vein in the case of vertical vein stenosis. The findings from both modalities were correlated with the results obtained at surgery (n=22) or autopsy (n=1).


RESULTS
In all patients, MDCT correctly depicted the drainage site of the common pulmonary vein, stenosis of the vertical vein and the course of the atypical vessel into the systemic vein (sensitivity 100%, specificity 100%). The specificity of echocardiography was 100% for the three defined findings. The sensitivity of echocardiography, however, was 87%, 71% and 0%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
MDCT can facilitate the diagnosis of TAPVC in certain cases.
Oh
Ki Ho
KH
Department of Radiology, Medical Institute, Pusan National University Hospital, Pusan 602-739, Republic of Korea.
Choo
Ki Seok
KS
Lim
Soo Jin
SJ
Lee
Hyoung Doo
HD
Park
Ji Ae
JA
Jo
Min Jung
MJ
Sung
Si Chan
SC
Chang
Yun Hee
YH
Jeong
Dong Wook
DW
Kim
Siho
S
D000792:Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010690:Phlebography / Q000379:methods*; D011667:Pulmonary Veins / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity