Impact of the pulmonary venous entry site morphology on postoperative pulmonary vein stenosis in total anomalous pulmonary venous connection patients.

Background: To evaluate the association between the pulmonary vein (PV) entry site morphology after total anomalous pulmonary vein repair (TAPVC) and postoperative pulmonary vein stenosis (PVS).

Methods: Computed tomography (CT) examination was performed to determine the PV entry site morphology. The width of the PV confluence was divided by the width of the left atrium (LA) to obtain the cPV/LA index.

Airway Anomalies in Pediatric Patients After Surgery for Congenital Heart Disease: Single-Center Retrospective Cohort Study, Taiwan, 2017-2020.

Objectives: Airway anomalies increase risk of morbidity and mortality in postoperative pediatric patients with congenital heart disease (CHD). We aimed to identify airway anomalies and the association with intermediate outcomes in patients undergoing surgery for CHD.

Design: Single-center, hospital-based retrospective study in Taiwan, 2017-2020.

Contemporary multimodality non-invasive cardiac imaging protocols for tetralogy of Fallot.

Tetralogy of Fallot is the most prevalent cyanotic congenital heart disease, requiring lifelong multimodality non-invasive cardiac imaging, such as echocardiography, cardiothoracic computed tomography, and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. As imaging techniques continuously evolve and are gradually integrated into clinical practice, there is a critical need to update multimodality imaging protocols. Over the last two decades, cardiothoracic computed tomography imaging techniques have advanced remarkably, significantly enhancing its role in evaluating patients with tetralogy of Fallot.

Graph theory applications in congenital heart disease.

Graph theory can be used to address problems with complex network structures. Congenital heart diseases (CHDs) involve complex abnormal connections between chambers, vessels, and organs. We proposed a new method to represent CHDs based on graph theory, wherein vertices were defined as the spaces through which blood flows and edges were defined by the blood flow between the spaces and direction of the blood flow.

Self-Expanding Pulmonary Valves in 53 Patients With Native Repaired Right Ventricular Outflow Tracts.

Background: Self-expanding pulmonary valve grafts have been designed for percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation (PPVI) in patients with native repaired right ventricular (RV) outflow tracts (RVOTs). However, their efficacy, in terms of RV function and graft remodelling remain unclear.

Methods: Patients with native RVOTs who received Venus P-valve (N = 15) or Pulsta valve (N = 38) implants between 2017 and 2022 were enrolled.

Determining Biventricular Repair Feasibility in Children with Dominant Right Ventricle Using Left Ventricular Quality Measured on Cardiac Computed Tomography.

Background: Left-ventricular (LV) characteristic measurements are crucial for evaluating the feasibility of biventricular repair (BiVR). This study aimed to determine the threshold of LV quality on cardiac computed tomography (CCT) for BiVR in children with a dominant right ventricle (DRV).

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all children with a DRV who underwent either BiVR or single ventricle palliation (SVP) at our institution between 2003 and 2019 in a case-control study with healthy individuals.

The implications of airway anomalies on children with congenital heart disease and bronchiolitis.

Background: Bronchiolitis is a common airway infection in young children. Hemodynamically significant congenital heart disease (CHD) predicts a more complicated course. However, the role of airway anomalies remains unknown.

Computed tomography jellyfish angiography in pediatric endovascular interventions.

Contrast pooling (CP) reconstruction is widely used in computed tomography (CT) studies of congenital heart diseases. However, endovascular devices are usually obscured in CP. To improve visualization of the vascular lumen, we developed jellyfish angiography (JFA), a semitransparent blood pool inversion technique.

Dynamic cardiac computed tomography characteristics of double-chambered right ventricle.

To introduce image characteristics of double-chambered right ventricle on cardiac computed tomography and set a diagnostic criterion for the diagnosis. We retrospectively collected and measured the right ventricular constrictive ratio on computed tomography images in children who had simple ventricular septal defects in the past 10 years, because double-chambered right ventricle is often associated with ventricular septal defects. The right ventricular constrictive ratio was defined as the subinfundibular cross-sectional intraluminal area during end-systole divided by the area during end-diastole in the same patient.

Radiologist burnout: Trends in medical imaging utilization under the national health insurance system with the universal code bundling strategy in an academic tertiary medical centre.

Purpose: The utilization of diagnostic medical imaging has been growing worldwide. However, no study has investigated the trend in image utilization and the corresponding workload of radiologists under the National Healthcare Insurance (NHI) system with a code-bundling-based reimbursement strategy. We will analyse the trend in diagnostic imaging utilization and the corresponding workload of the radiologists at a single tertiary medical centre using the NHI system.

Clinical implications of airway anomalies and stenosis in patients with heterotaxy syndrome.

In heterotaxy syndrome, bronchopulmonary situs usually reflects atrial situs, resulting in either right (RAI) or left atrial isomerism (LAI). This study determines airway anomalies and its implications in patients with heterotaxy. This retrospective study included 223 patients with heterotaxy syndrome who received an integrated cardiac computed tomography evaluation.

Clinical implications of congenital interruption of inferior vena cava.

Background/purpose: Inferior vena cava (IVC) interruption is rare and can be detected through prenatal or postnatal imaging. It usually occurs in patients with heterotaxy syndrome with bilateral left-sidedness (left isomerism or polysplenia syndrome), indicating a laterality defect. However, its long-term outcomes remain unclear.

Pediatric Cardiothoracic CT Guideline Provided by the Asian Society of Cardiovascular Imaging Congenital Heart Disease Study Group: Part 2. Contemporary Clinical Applications.

The use of pediatric cardiothoracic CT for congenital heart disease (CHD) was traditionally limited to the morphologic evaluation of the extracardiac thoracic vessels, lungs, and airways. Currently, the applications of CT have increased, owing to technological advancements in hardware and software as well as several dose-reduction measures. In the previously published part 1 of the guideline by the Asian Society of Cardiovascular Imaging Congenital Heart Disease Study Group, we reviewed the prerequisite technical knowledge for clinical applications in a user-friendly and vendor-specific manner.

History of the Asian Society of Cardiovascular Imaging.

The Asian Society of Cardiovascular Imaging (ASCI) was established in 2006 to improve the healthcare, education, training, quality control, and research in cardiovascular imaging in Asia. The ASCI is presently active, with more than 1400 members from 53 countries. Herein, the evolution and current development of the ASCI are described, including the early history, organization, annual congresses, collaboration with international sister societies, official journal, and the ASCI School.

Prognostic markers in patients undergoing transcatheter implantation of Venus P-valve: Experience in Taiwan.

Background/purpose: Prognostic factors remain unclear in patients undergoing transcatheter implantation of Venus P-valve for their severe pulmonary regurgitation associated with native right ventricular (RV) outflow tract.

Method: Between January 2017 and October 2018, we prospectively collected data of patient characteristics, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, cardiopulmonary exercise testing, and levels of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) before and 6-12 months after valve graft implantation.

Results: Fifteen patients (male: 8, median age: 24.

The Third Asian Radiology Forum: Screening Programs in Asia.

According to reports presented at the Asian Radiology Forum 2017 in Taipei, the landscape of screening in Asia is growing, and the role of radiologists is also evolving. The Asian Radiology Forum was first held by the Korean Society of Radiology and the national delegates of Asian radiological partner societies, who attended this meeting with the aim of discussing selected subjects of global relevance in radiology. In 2017, current trends and policies concerning various cancer screening programs from each delegate country were discussed.

Diagnosis of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension in Children by Using Cardiac Computed Tomography.

Objective: To establish diagnostic criteria for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in children by using parameters obtained through noninvasive cardiac computed tomography (CCT).

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively measured parameters from CCT images of children from a single institution in a multiple stepwise process. A total of 208 children with mean age of 10.

Excessive Tracheal Length in Patients With Congenital Tracheal Stenosis.

Background: Slide tracheoplasty is the preferred approach for treating long-segment congenital tracheal stenosis (CTS). However, little research has been conducted on the tracheobronchial anatomy before and after slide tracheoplasties in patients with CTS.

Methods: We reviewed 23 patients with CTS who received slide tracheoplasties.

Arterial Switch, Ventricular Septation, and Fontan Takedown for Double Inlet Left Ventricle.

A patient with double inlet left ventricle with transposition of great arteries and severe coarctation of the aorta received aortoplasty and pulmonary artery banding, followed by bidirectional Glenn shunt and extracardiac total cavopulmonary connection (TCPC). Severe subaortic stenosis and increased atrioventricular valve regurgitation were noted 4 years after TCPC. Surgery included alleviation of the subaortic stenosis, ventricular septation through the tricuspid valve approach, and an arterial switch with the main pulmonary artery reopened.