Can left ventricular function be assessed on non-ECG-gated CT?

To evaluate whether non-gated computed tomography (CT) can assess left ventricular (LV) function, 101 patients with both CT and echocardiography were selected, with ejection fraction <50% on echocardiography used as a reference standard. CTs were blindly reevaluated, and qualitative assessment of LV dysfunction on CT correlated with echocardiographic dysfunction, odds ratio of 21.0 (95% confidence interval=6.

Neonatal myocardial infarction: case report and review of the literature.

Myocardial infarction in a neonate is rare. We describe the case of a full-term male who presented with respiratory distress. A chest radiograph demonstrated cardiomegaly.

MRI and computed tomography of cardiac and pulmonary complications of tetralogy of fallot in adults.

Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) represents the most common form of cyanotic congenital heart disease, accounting for 6.8% of all congenital heart disease. As surgical techniques and medical management of patients with TOF have improved, most affected patients are reaching adulthood.

Anomalies of visceroatrial situs.

Objective: Visceroatrial situs refers to the position and configuration of the cardiac atria, the tracheobronchial tree, and the thoracoabdominal viscera. Accurate determination of situs is essential because anomalies of situs are associated with an increased incidence of complex congenital heart disease.

Conclusion: We propose a methodical diagnostic approach to determining the visceroatrial situs and cardiac configuration that predicts the probability and types of associated congenital heart disease.

CT angiography for evaluation of coronary artery disease in inner-city outpatients: an initial prospective comparison with stress myocardial perfusion imaging.

To evaluate the utility of CT coronary angiography (CTA) for demonstrating coronary artery disease in inner-city outpatients, we prospectively compared CTA with stress SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging in an ethnically diverse, gender balanced population. All patients gave written informed consent for this IRB approved, HIPAA compliant study. Sixty-one patients completed both CTA and SPECT.

Diagnostic accuracy of Doppler echocardiography for determining left ventricular diastolic pressure elevation: prospective comparison to chest radiography, serum B-type natriuretic peptide, and chest auscultation.

Background: Doppler echocardiography (DE), chest radiography (CXR), serum B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) measurement and physical examination are all commonly employed to estimate left ventricular diastolic pressure (LVDP) in clinical care. There are no published studies directly comparing the diagnostic accuracy of these tests.

Methods And Results: DE, BNP, CXR, and physical examination were performed on 56 consecutive patients immediately following clinically indicated cardiac catheterization with measurement of LVDP.

Coronary sinus compression: an early computed tomographic sign of cardiac tamponade.

Objective: To determine retrospectively the distinguishing features of cardiac tamponade on conventional chest computed tomography (CT).

Materials And Methods: Blinded retrospective analysis of CT scans from 14 patients (6 women, 8 men; age range, 49-93 yrs; mean age, 71 yrs) with echocardiographic evidence of tamponade and 15 controls (11 women, 4 men; age range, 37-96 yrs; mean age, 66 yrs) without tamponade was performed by 3 cardiothoracic radiologists. Computed tomographic scans were analyzed for right ventricular flattening, contrast reflux into the azygos vein, and coronary sinus compression.

Prevalence and characterization of asymptomatic pacemaker and ICD lead perforation on CT.

Background: Pacemakers and implantable cardiac defibrillators (ICDs) are widely used for the management of cardiac arrhythmias and congestive heart failure (CHF). Acute implantation complication rates range from 3% to 7%. The aim of this study is to describe the incidence of lead perforation on computed tomography (CT), and correlate these findings with electrophysiologic data.

Intrathoracic lymphadenopathy in hospitalized patients with pneumococcal pneumonia.

Purposes: Pneumococcal pneumonia is the most common etiology for community-acquired pneumonia. The prevalence of lymphadenopathy seen on CT scans in these patients is uncertain. The purpose of this series was to assess the prevalence of intrathoracic lymphadenopathy in hospitalized patients with pneumococcal pneumonia.

CT detection of acute myocardial infarction.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of contrast-enhanced CT to detect acute myocardial infarction (MI), which has not been systematically assessed. On contrast-enhanced helical chest CT, we retrospectively identified 18 patients (10 women, eight men; mean age, 66 years) with an initial MI. Each patient underwent contrast-enhanced single-detector helical chest CT within 1 month after the MI between March 2001 and June 2002.