The radiologic features of cardiac rotation

Predicting Interatrial Septum Rotation: Is the Position of the Heart or the Direction of the Coronary Sinus Reliable?

“…While these adjustments are thought to be due to rotation of IAS with heart position, we were unable to confirm whether a more vertical or transverse heart position is predictive of a more anterior or posterior direction of the IAS. This lack of a function‐like relation may reflect the fact that the heart rotates along the anterior‐posterior axis within the chest, whereas the orientation of the septum is more closely related to the rotation along the superior‐inferior axis of the heart . Furthermore, the rotation of the heart within the chest is more complex than IAS orientation, as it is influenced by structures both intrinsic and extrinsic to the heart .…”

“…In order to measure the orientation of the IAS, typically it must be defined using a 3D model. However, its rotation along the superior‐inferior axis of the body can be visualized in the axial plane using the fossae ovalis as an anatomical landmark, as previously described . Therefore, measurements of septal orientation (angle β) were performed as follows (Fig.…”

“…Finally, the direction of the CS was determined by its cross‐section. Similar to the orientation of the IAS, the CS rotates along the superior‐inferior axis . Therefore, the direction of the CS is determined in the axial plane by measuring the angulation between the radial line, which is perpendicular to the direction of the CS, and a line drawn to the horizontal.…”

“…However, its rotation along the superior-inferior axis of the body can be visualized in the axial plane using the fossae ovalis as an anatomical landmark, as previously described. [5][6][7] Therefore, measurements of septal orientation (angle β) were performed as follows ( Fig. 1B): (1) The axial plane in which the fossae ovalis was most clearly visualized was identified and chosen to perform measurement; (2) the fossae ovalis was located and a line illustrating the IAS was drawn through the plane separating the right and left atria, which was determined based on the clear differences in the atria densities; (3) the angle (β) between the line described above and a line drawn to the horizontal was measured using CT workstation.…”

“…Similar to the orientation of the IAS, the CS rotates along the superior-inferior axis. 5,6 Therefore, the direction of the CS is determined in the axial plane by measuring the angulation between the radial line, which is perpendicular to the direction of the CS, and a line drawn to the horizontal. Measurements of the direction of the CS (angle γ ) were determined as follows ( Fig.…”