Role of multi-slice and three-dimensional computed tomography in delineating extracardiac vascular abnormalities in neonates.
BACKGROUND
Recent advances in multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) and three-dimensional computed tomography (3D CT) provide good-resolution images and short scan time for complete diagnosis of congenital heart disease (CHD). In the present study, we found that MSCT rapidly provides clinically relevant information for diagnosing extracardiac vascular anatomy in neonates with CHD. It is less invasive, necessitating only minimum or no sedation and a relatively small amount of contrast material. These advantages are crucial, especially for critically ill neonates.


METHODS
Between January 2007 and December 2008, MSCT scans were conducted on 41 neonates who were admitted to our neonatal intensive care unit. All the neonates were suspected to have complex CHD after an initial echocardiography examination. The scans were focused on detecting extracardiac vascular anatomy and abnormalities. All the image data sets were sent to image processing workstations for multiplanar interactive viewing and 3D reconstruction.


RESULTS
High-resolution MSCT scan images were obtained from 41 patients. Reported indications and findings of extracardiac abnormalities and related structural anatomy pertaining to congenital heart disease from MSCT and 3D CT findings were confirmed by clinical and surgical findings by a team of multidisciplinary congenital heart disease specialists.


CONCLUSIONS
Based on clinical and surgical confirmation of the MSCT scan results from a multidisciplinary congenital heart disease specialist team, we concluded that adequate information on CHD, specifically that regarding extracardiac abnormalities of the anatomy, can be obtained and MSCT can be used to replace cardiac catheterization.
Long
Yew Giin
YG
Department of Pediatrics, Sin Lau Hospital, Madou, Taiwan.
Yang
Yeng-Ying
YY
Department of Pediatrics, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Huang
I-Lun
IL
Department of Radiology, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Pan
Jun-Yen
JY
Department of Surgery, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Wu
Ming-Ting
MT
Department of Radiology, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Weng
Ken-Pen
KP
Department of Pediatrics, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Hsieh
Kai-Sheng
KS
Department of Pediatrics, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Electronic address: kshsieh@isca.vghks.gov.tw.
D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D054079:Vascular Malformations / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy