Low-Dose Coronary Artery Computed Tomography Angiogram of an Infant with Tetralogy of Fallot Using a 256-Slice Multidetector Computed Tomography Scanner

Abstract

The reported incidence of anomalous coronary arteries among children is 0.17%, but it is much greater (8%) among children with tetralogy of Fallot (TOF). The diagnosis of coronary artery anomalies can be difficult using invasive aortography and is not without risk. Technical improvements with multidetector computed tomography (MDCT), including a reduced effective radiation dose, make cardiac CT angiography an attractive alternative not only because the risks of an invasive examination are avoided, but also because sedation risks also are eliminated in most cases. This report highlights 256-slice MDCT imaging of the coronary arteries in a nonsedated 26-day-old infant using an effective radiation dose of only 0.51 millisieverts (mSV).

Diagnostic accuracy of dual-source multislice computed tomographic analysis for the preoperative detection of coronary artery anomalies in 100 patients with tetralogy of Fallot

“…Several studies described the appearance of the coronary arteries on chest or cardiac CT scans in infants and children. 8,10,11 However, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first large case series study of patients with TOF who underwent surgical repair after echocardiography and DSCT without cardiac catheterization. We found 100% agreement between DSCT and surgical findings.…”

Effect of heart rate on the diagnostic accuracy of 256-slice computed tomography angiography in the detection of coronary artery stenosis: ROC curve analysis

“…Numerous studies have reported that multi-slice helical CTA has advantages in diagnosing CAD (21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30). Following the introduction of air-cushion suspension-bearing technology in 256-slice spiral CT, friction and oscillation between objects was dispelled, and this accelerated the rotary speed of the ball tube.…”

CT Dynamics: The Shift from Morphology to Function

“…For example, most 64-row systems can cover approximately 4 cm of anatomy dynamically. Other systems have greater anatomic coverage with 8 and even 16 cm of anatomy being acquired in a single rotation without table motion [15,16]. The volume scan mode allows the imaged volumes to be interrogated dynamically with temporal uniformity, i.e., the entire volume is imaged at the same temporal phase [17].…”