Journal Article

Diagnostic accuracy of low-dose dual-source cardiac computed tomography as compared to surgery in univentricular heart patients

Makarawate, Pattarapong, Chaosuwannakit, Narumol

2018

Overview

Background To evaluate the ability of low radiation dose dual-source computed tomography (DSCT) to depict the features of morphological univentricular heart and to define accuracy by comparing findings with surgery. Methods Low radiation dose dual-source cardiac computed tomography (CCT) of 33 cases of functional univentricular heart preliminary diagnosis by echocardiography compared with the results of surgery were retrospectively analyzed (aged 1 day to 4 years, median 5 months). The appropriate dose reduction strategies and iterative reconstruction were applied. Results Thirty three univentricular heart patients were classified into three types according to Anderson’s classification method, including 16 cases (48.5%) univentricular of right ventricular type with rudimentary chamber of left ventricle, 11 cases (33.3%) univentricular of left ventricular type with rudimentary chamber of right ventricle and 6 cases (18.2%) univentricular heart of indeterminate type without rudimentary chamber. The extracardiac malformation such as hypoplastic aortic arch, coronary artery fistula, total anomalous pulmonary venous returns or hypoplastic lung were presented frequently. The overall sensitivity and specification of cardiac CT was 100% compared to the results of surgery. The procedural dose-length product was 18 ± 5 mGy-cm, and unadjusted and adjusted radiation doses were 0.25 and 0.64 mSv, respectively. Conclusion Cardiac CT can diagnose accurately and be performed with a low radiation exposure in patients with the functional univentricular heart disease. The aorta, pulmonary artery and lung can be evaluated completely and simultaneously as well. Cardiac CT is an effective advanced non-invasive imaging modality to comprehensive evaluation the functional univentricular heart patients, particularly if cardiac MRI poses a high risk or is contraindicated.

• Publisher: BioMed Central,BioMed Central Ltd,BMC
• Subject: Cardiac CT / Cardiac patients / Cardiac Surgery / Care and treatment / CAT scans / Child, Preschool / Comparative analysis / Congenital heart defects / Dual-source CT / Echocardiography / Female / Health aspects / Heart Defects, Congenital - diagnostic imaging / Heart Defects, Congenital - surgery / Heart Ventricles - abnormalities / Heart Ventricles - diagnostic imaging / Humans / Infant / Infant, Newborn / Male / Medicine / Medicine & Public Health / Radiation Dosage / Research Article / Retrospective Studies / Sensitivity and Specificity / Single ventricle congenital heart disease / Thoracic Surgery / Tomography, X-Ray Computed - methods / Univentricular heart