A fast and reproducible method to estimate left atrial volume using cardiac computed tomography.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to do better than the simple maximal axial area (MArea) and to validate simple, fast and robust orthogonal methods for determining the left atrium volume (LAV) with cardiac CT (CCT).

Material And Methods: A total of 60 patients who underwent CTT were retrospectively included. There were 30 men and 30 women with a mean age of 59±12 (SD) years (range: 27-80 years), using four methods to assess LAV beyond the MArea: two orthogonal methods requiring the measurements of axial, coronal and sagittal planes of 3 diameters LAV or 3 area LAV; Area-length biplane method LAV; and volumetric method LAV using a semi-automated tool that served as the reference standard.

Neopulmonary Outflow Tract Obstruction Assessment by 4D Flow MRI in Adults With Transposition of the Great Arteries After Arterial Switch Operation.

Background: The main complication in adult patients with transposition of the great arteries (TGA) treated by an arterial switch operation (ASO) is neopulmonary outflow tract stenosis (NPOTS). However, pulmonary flow velocity measurements cannot always be performed with transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) due to complex anatomical features. 4D flow MRI allows detection, quantification, and location of the obstruction site along the NPOTS.

Emerging clinical applications of computed tomography.

X-ray computed tomography (CT) has recently been experiencing remarkable growth as a result of technological advances and new clinical applications. This paper reviews the essential physics of X-ray CT and its major components. Also reviewed are recent promising applications of CT, ie, CT-guided procedures, CT-based thermometry, photon-counting technology, hybrid PET-CT, use of ultrafast-high pitch scanners, and potential use of dual-energy CT for material differentiations.

Magnetic resonance comparison of left-right heart volumetric and functional parameters in thalassemia major and thalassemia intermedia patients.

Objectives: To evaluate a population of asymptomatic thalassemia major (TM) and thalassemia intermedia (TI) patients using cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR). We supposed that TI group could be differentiated from the TM group based on T2(∗) and that the TI group could demonstrate higher cardiac output.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of 242 patients with TM and TI was performed (132 males, 110 females; mean age 39.

Dark blood versus bright blood T2 acquisition in cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) for thalassaemia major (TM) patients: evaluation of feasibility, reproducibility and image quality.

Objectives: To compare the effectiveness of dark blood (DB) versus bright blood (BB) sequences. To assess the intra and inter-observer variability and inter-study reproducibility between BB versus DB. To evaluate image quality level in the two sequences.

Relationship among diffusion tensor imaging, EEG activity, and cognitive status in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease patients.

Magnetic resonance (MR) diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) can detect microstructural alterations by means of fractional anisotropy (FA) in patients with dementia, also in relation to cognitive status. The present study aimed at investigating the possible relation among white matter damage in DTI, quantitative electroencephalography (EEG) spectral power, and cognitive status in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients. Forty-seven subjects (8 moderate AD, 18 mild AD, 12 MCI, and 9 healthy controls) underwent brain MR, neuropsychological evaluation, and resting EEG recording.

Relationship between myocardial T2 values and cardiac volumetric and functional parameters in β-thalassemia patients evaluated by cardiac magnetic resonance in association with serum ferritin levels.

Purpose: Myocardial T2 cardiovascular magnetic resonance provides a rapid and reproducible assessment of cardiac iron load in thalassemia patients. Although cardiac involvement is mainly characterized by left ventricular dysfunction caused by iron overload, little is known about right ventricular function. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between T2 value in myocardium and left-right ventricular volumetric and functional parameters and to evaluate the existing associations between left-right ventricles volumetric and functional parameter, myocardial T2 values and blood ferritin levels.