Non-Coronary Cardiac CT Imaging

Woodard, Pamela K.; Bhalla, Sanjeev; Javidan-Nejad, Cylen; Gutierrez, Fernando R.

doi:10.1053/j.sult.2005.11.003

« PreviousSeminars in Ultrasound, CT and MRI
Volume 27, Issue 1 , Pages 56-75, February 2006

Non-Coronary Cardiac CT Imaging

Pamela K. Woodard, MD
- Cardiovascular Imaging Laboratory, Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO.
- Address reprint requests to Pamela K. Woodard, MD, Washington University School of Medicine, Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Cardiovascular Imaging Laboratory, 510 S. Kinghighway Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63110; Phone: 314-362-9989; Fax: 314-747-3882.
Sanjeev Bhalla, MD
- Cardiothoracic Imaging, Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO.
Cylen Javidan-Nejad, MD
- Cardiothoracic Imaging, Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO.
Fernando R. Gutierrez, MD
- Cardiothoracic Imaging, Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO.

Cardiac multidetector CT (MDCT) has moved from purely anatomic imaging, to assessment of cardiac function. Significant advances since the advent of multidetector CT now make it feasible to assess not only the coronary arteries, but also ejection fraction, ventricular volumes, myocardial mass and the presence of wall-motion abnormalities. Advances include improvements in EKG-gating, including improvements in temporal resolution, as well as the addition of delayed contrast-enhanced methods. Anatomic imaging has improved as well, with thinner collimation and better reconstruction methods. Three-dimensional software programs now permit excellent surface rendered displays and multiplanar reconstructions suitable as surgical and procedural “road maps.”