title: Computed tomography in congenital heart disease: how generic principles can be applied to create bespoke protocols in the Fontan circuit.
abstract: Cardiac computed tomography (CCT) has become an invaluable cross-sectional imaging modality in congenital heart disease (CHD) patients. However, altered anatomical connections and cardiovascular physiology makes CHD arguably the most challenging area in CCT imaging, which remains a complimentary modality to cardiac magnetic resonance and echocardiography. A bespoke CT protocol is often required to achieve a diagnostic examination; this can be achieved through careful consideration of the basic principles of image acquisition and contrast administration. This article reviews these principles and demonstrates how they can be applied to CCT in CHD using the Fontan circulation as an example.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Radiology, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: Will W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Loughborough
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Cardiology, Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yeong
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Radiology, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Radiology, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: Nathan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Manghat
keywords: Computed tomography (CT); Fontan circuit; bespoke acquisition protocol design; congenital cardiac disease; iodinated contrast haemodynamics