State-of-the-art CT imaging techniques for congenital heart disease.
CT is increasingly being used for evaluating the cardiovascular structures and airways in the patients with congenital heart disease. Multi-slice CT has traditionally been used for the evaluation of the extracardiac vascular and airway abnormalities because of its inherent high spatial resolution and excellent air-tissue contrast. Recent developments in CT technology primarily by reducing the cardiac motion and the radiation dose usage in congenital heart disease evaluation have helped expand the indications for CT usage. Tracheobronchomalacia associated with congenital heart disease can be evaluated with cine CT. Intravenous contrast injection should be tailored to unequivocally demonstrate cardiovascular abnormalities. Knowledge of the state-of-the-art CT imaging techniques that are used for evaluating congenital heart disease is helpful not only for planning and performing CT examinations, but also for interpreting and presenting the CT image findings that consequently guide the proper medical and surgical management.
Goo
Hyun Woo
HW
Department of Radiology and the Research Institute of Radiology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul 138-736, Korea. hwgoo@amc.seoul.kr
D003287:Contrast Media; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D055090:Tracheomalacia / Q000150:complications / Q000151:congenital / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging
D003287:Contrast Media