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Visualization of neonatal coronary arteries on multidetector row CT: ECG-gated versus non-ECG-gated technique

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Abstract

Background

Multidetector CT (MDCT) seems to be a promising tool for detection of neonatal coronary arteries, but whether the ECG-gated or non-ECG-gated technique should be used has not been established.

Objective

To compare the detection rate and image quality of neonatal coronary arteries on MDCT using ECG-gated and non-ECG-gated techniques.

Materials and methods

Twelve neonates with complex congenital heart disease were included. The CT scan was acquired using an ECG-gated technique, and the most quiescent phase of the RR interval was selected to represent the ECG-gated images. The raw data were then reconstructed without the ECG signal to obtain non-ECG-gated images. The detection rate and image quality of nine coronary artery segments in the two sets of images were then compared. A two-tailed paired t test was used with P values <0.05 considered as statistically significant.

Results

In all coronary segments the ECG-gated technique had a better detection rate and produced images of better quality. The difference between the two techniques ranged from 25% in the left main coronary artery to 100% in the distal right coronary artery.

Conclusion

For neonates referred for MDCT, if evaluation of coronary artery anatomy is important for the clinical management or surgical planning, the ECG-gated technique should be used because it can reliably detect the coronary arteries.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to express our appreciation to Mr. Larry Chia-Hon Chen (Philips Medical Systems, Taiwan) and Mr. Leon Wei-Chun Lee (Unison Tek Co. Ltd., Taiwan) for their assistance in improving the quality of neonatal cardiac CT.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, No. 160, Sec. 3, Taichung Harbor Road, Taichung, 407, Taiwan, Republic of China

    I-Chen Tsai, Tain Lee & Min-Chi Chen

  2. Faculty of Medicine, Medical College of Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan, Republic of China

    I-Chen Tsai, Tain Lee & Sheng-Lin Jan

  3. Department of Medicine and Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China

    I-Chen Tsai, Tain Lee & Yun-Ching Fu

  4. Section of Paediatric Cardiology, Department of Paediatrics, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Yun-Ching Fu & Sheng-Lin Jan

  5. Section of Cardiovascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Chung-Chi Wang & Yen Chang

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  1. I-Chen Tsai
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  2. Tain Lee
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  3. Min-Chi Chen
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  7. Yen Chang
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Correspondence to I-Chen Tsai.

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Tsai, IC., Lee, T., Chen, MC. et al. Visualization of neonatal coronary arteries on multidetector row CT: ECG-gated versus non-ECG-gated technique. Pediatr Radiol 37, 818–825 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-007-0512-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-007-0512-3

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