title: Dual-source computed tomography for evaluating pulmonary artery in pediatric patients with cyanotic congenital heart disease: Comparison with transthoracic echocardiography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the quantitative accuracy of dual-source computed tomography (DSCT) on measurements of pulmonary artery in pediatric patients with cyanotic congenital heart diseases (CCHDs) when compared with transthoracic echocardiography (TTE).
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-five patients (mean age: 27.88 ± 28.27 months) with CCHDs underwent DSCT and TTE for evaluating the diameter of the main pulmonary artery (MPA), right pulmonary artery (RPA), and left pulmonary artery (LPA). Surgical measurements were obtained and served as the reference standard. The agreement was tested by linear regression analysis, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and Bland-Altman analysis. The intra- and extracardiac malformations were also observed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a markedly positive correlation between DSCT and surgical measurements of the MPA, RPA, and LPA (r=0.95-0.97; all p<0.001), although the overestimation of the measurements of MPA, RPA, and LPA (bias 0.15 ± 0.95, 0.31 ± 0.63 and 0.35 ± 0.68 mm, respectively) was observed. However, there was a moderate correlation between TTE and surgical measurements of MPA, RPA, and LPA (r=0.61-0.84; all p<0.001), and the underestimation of the measurements of MPA, RPA, and LPA (bias-1.20 ± 1.69, -1.80 ± 1.77, and -1.50 ± 2.30 mm, respectively) was observed. In addition, DSCT was more efficient in finding associated malformations than TTE (40/40 vs. 33/40).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As a reliable, noninvasive and radiation-save imaging modality, DSCT can provide more accurate pulmonary artery measurements than TTE in cardiac surgical procedures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 37# Guo Xue Xiang, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China.
authors.forename: Ke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 37# Guo Xue Xiang, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China. Electronic address: yangzg666@163.com.
authors.forename: Zhi-Gang
authors.initials: ZG
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 37# Guo Xue Xiang, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China.
authors.forename: Hua-Yan
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 37# Guo Xue Xiang, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China.
authors.forename: Si-Xiu
authors.initials: SX
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 37# Guo Xue Xiang, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China.
authors.forename: Xi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, 20# Section 3 South Renmin Road, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China. Electronic address: gykpanda@163.com.
authors.forename: Ying-Kun
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Guo
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D014463:Ultrasonography
keywords: Cyanotic congenital heart diseases; Dual-source computed tomography; Pulmonary artery; Transthoracic echocardiography