Premium
Three dimensional CT angiography for patients with congenital heart disease: Scanning protocol for pediatric patients
Author(s) -
Jelnin Vladimir,
Co Jennifer,
Muneer Basharat,
Swaminathan Balasubramanian,
Toska Suzanna,
Ruiz Carlos E.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
catheterization and cardiovascular interventions
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.988
H-Index - 116
eISSN - 1522-726X
pISSN - 1522-1946
DOI - 10.1002/ccd.20551
Subject(s) - medicine , hounsfield scale , contrast (vision) , nuclear medicine , angiography , image quality , heart disease , linear regression , radiology , cardiology , computed tomography , artificial intelligence , machine learning , computer science , image (mathematics)
The objective of our study was to determine the contrast attenuation level that yields high quality cardiac three‐dimensional (3‐D) images and to predict the contrast injection rate (IR), from body weight, to reach this attenuation level. Enhanced electron beam computerized tomography (EBCT) with 3‐D reconstruction is useful in delineating cardiac anatomy in complex congenital heart disease (CHD). The current experience of using electron beam angiography (EBA) in pediatric CHD is limited. Well‐defined contrast injection protocols, specifically the contrast IR, have not been standardized when compared to those for adults. Establishing the contrast IR is essential in obtaining high quality 3‐D images. We retrospectively analyzed the studies of 115 pediatric patients with CHD. EBA images were divided into group 1 with good quality 3‐D images and group 2 with poor quality. The mean of measured enhancement level, expressed in Hounsfield units (HU), and contrast IR were analyzed in both groups. Spearman correlation was used to examine the relationship between weight and IR. The IR was predicted from weight using simple linear regression analysis. The mean level of enhancement was 344 ± 91 and 174 ± 31 HU for group 1 and group 2, respectively. Group 1 consisted of 103 patients (90%) and the IR strongly correlated with weight (ρ = 0.861, P < 0.01). The IR was estimated from the linear regression equation IR = 0.59 + 0.056 × weight. Necessary contrast enhancement level for quality 3‐D reconstruction should be greater than 250 HU, and the IR can be estimated from patient's weight. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.