Accuracy of automated attenuation-based 3-dimensional segmentation: in the analysis of left ventricular function compared with magnetic resonance imaging.

We evaluated attenuation-based 3-dimensional segmentation for the analysis of left ventricular function, using as our standard of reference magnetic resonance imaging and dual-source computed tomography with traditional short-axis planimetry.Twenty patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease were examined prospectively. In all magnetic resonance and computed tomographic datasets, global functional values were determined by 2-dimensional planimetry.

Advances in imaging protocols for cardiac MDCT: from 16- to 64-row multidetector computed tomography.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the Western world. Since the majority of all invasive diagnostic coronary angiography procedures are not followed by therapeutic interventions, interest is growing in noninvasive technologies to diagnose and visualize CAD. The most promising of these is multislice spiral computed tomography (MSCT), which can visualize human coronary arteries in vivo noninvasively.

Evaluation of cardiac function and myocardial viability with 16- and 64-slice multidetector computed tomography.

Retrospectively ECG-gated MDCT shows a high correlation and acceptable agreement of left-ventricular functional parameters compared to MR imaging. Thus, in addition to the non-invasive evaluation of coronary arteries, further important additional information of left-ventricular functional parameters with clinical and prognostic relevance can be achieved by one single MDCT examination. For assessment of myocardial viability, low-dose CT late enhancement scanning is feasible, and preliminary results look promising.