Table 1 Recommended imaging range and ECG synchronisation depending on the congenital heart disease type
From: Technical principles of computed tomography in patients with congenital heart disease
Congenital heart disease type | Imaging range | ECG synchronisation required? | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
Aortic coarctation | Aortic arch to diaphragm | No | Thin collimation is recommended for identification of collateral pathways |
Anomalous pulmonary venous return | Aortic arch to diaphragm | No | Imaging range should be extended to the level of the kidneys in the infracardiac type |
Patent ductus arteriosus | Aortic arch to diaphragm | No | Thin collimation is recommended for identification of small ductus arteriosus |
Persistent superior left vena cava | Aortic arch to diaphragm | No | — |
Atrial septal defect | Below tracheal bifurcation to diaphragm | Yes | ECG synchronisation may be beneficial for small intracardiac shunts |
Ventricular septal defect | Below tracheal bifurcation to diaphragm | Yes | ECG synchronisation may be beneficial for small intracardiac shunts |
Tetralogy of Fallot | Above the pulmonary bifurcation to diaphragm | No | — |
Common aortic-pulmonary trunk | Above the pulmonary bifurcation to diaphragm | No | — |
Transposition of the great arteries | Above the pulmonary bifurcation to diaphragm | No | — |
Univentricular heart | Below tracheal bifurcation to diaphragm | No | No saline chasing bolus should be used to avoid wash-out |
Double outlet ventricle | Above pulmonary bifurcation to diaphragm | No | No saline chasing bolus should be used to avoid wash-out |
Isomerism | Below tracheal bifurcation to diaphragm | Yes | ECG synchronisation is recommended for morphological identification of the atrial appendages to determine sideness; the imaging range must include the thorax and spleen for identification of extracardiac abnormalities |
Coronary artery anomaly | Below tracheal bifurcation to diaphragm | Yes | Thin collimation and ECG synchronisation are mandatory |