Aortic valvular stenosis (AS) is the most common valve disease which results in the need for a valve replacement. Although a Doppler echocardiography is the current reference imaging method, the multidetector computerized tomograpghy (MDCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have recently emerged as a promising method for noninvasive valve imaging. In this study, we briefly describe the usefulness and comparative merits of the MDCT and MRI for the evaluation of AS in terms of valvular morphology (as the causes of AS), quantification of aortic valve area, pressure gradient of flow (for assessment severity of AS), and the evaluation of the ascending aorta and cardiac function (as the secondary effects of AS). The familiarity with the MDCT and MRI features of AS is considered to be helpful for the accurate diagnosis and proper management of patients with a poor acoustic window.
Aortic Valve Stenosis/*diagnosis/radiography ; Aortography/*methods ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging/*methods ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/*methods

PURPOSE: Conventional computed tomography (CT) is the gold standard method for case planning for endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR). However, aortography with a marking catheter is needed for measuring the actual length of an aneurysm. With advances in imaging technology, a 3-dimensional (3D) workstation can obviate the need for the aortography. The objective of this study was to determine whether a 3D workstation could obviate the need for aortography for EVAR. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One vascular surgeon and 1 interventional radiologist retrospectively assessed axial CT scans and reformatted the 3D CT scans by using the iNtuition workstation (TeraRecon Inc., San Mateo, CA, USA) for 25 patients who underwent EVAR. Four measurements of diameter and length were obtained from each modality. The actual length of an aneurysm for the proper graft was decided by 2 observers by reviewing the aortography with a marking catheter. RESULTS: The measurements from the 2 modalities were reproducible with intraobserver correlation coefficients of 0.89 to 1.0 for conventional CT and 0.98 to 1.0 for 3D workstation. Interobserver correlation coefficients were 0.29 to 0.95 for conventional CT and 0.85 to 0.99 for the 3D workstation. The length of the aneurysm for proper main graft coincided in 18 and 14 patients according to the conventional CT scan and in 21 and 18 patients according to the 3D workstation, respectively. CONCLUSION: The interobserver agreement in planning EVAR was significantly better with the iNtuition 3D workstation. But aortography with a marking catheter may still be needed for selecting the proper graft.
Aneurysm ; Aortic Aneurysm* ; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal* ; Aortography ; Catheters ; Endovascular Procedures ; Humans ; Intuition ; Methods ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Transplants

OBJECTIVETo explore the value of 16-slice spiral CT angiography in the diagnosis of aortic dissection (AD).

METHODSTwenty patients with AD underwent 16-slice spiral CT angiography with multi-planar reformation (MPR), curved planar reformation (CPR), maximum intensity projection (MIP), volume rendering (VR) and CT virtual endoscopy (CTVE). All the original and reconstructed images were studied.

RESULTSThe original transverse axial images most reliably preserved the fundamental information. The reconstructed images gave better performance in displaying the spatial relation between the blood vessels and the lesions. Images obtained by different reconstruction methods had different characteristics, and combining different display modes allowed clear representation of the features of aortic dissection such as the extension of the lesion, true and false cavity, disrepair of the intimal flap, aortal branch involvement, thrombi and outcome of endoluminal stenting.

CONCLUSIONMultislice spiral CT angiography can fully display the details of aortic dissection and is therefore of important value for the diagnosis and preoperative and postoperative evaluations.

Adult ; Aged ; Aneurysm, Dissecting ; diagnostic imaging ; Aortic Aneurysm ; diagnostic imaging ; Aortography ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reproducibility of Results ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; methods

Angioplasty, Balloon ; methods ; Aortic Coarctation ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; therapy ; Aortography ; Cardiac Catheterization ; methods ; Child ; Humans ; Male ; Platinum ; Prosthesis Design ; Stents ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome

Papillary fibroelastoma is a rare benign cardiac tumor that represents 10% of all primary cardiac tumors. Diagnosis is accomplished incidentally by echocardiography that is usually performed for another purpose. Most papillary fibroelastomas are asymptomatic, but the lesions are recognized as a cause of embolisms. To the best of our knowledge, there has been no case report of computed tomography findings of a papillary fibroelastoma. We report a case of a papillary fibroelastoma in a 78-yr-old woman who had dyspnea and chest tightness. Echocardiography revealed a small lobulated mobile echogenic mass attached to the aortic valve, and CT demonstrated a lobulated soft tissue density mass with a thin stalk at the sinotubular junction of the aortic valve.
Aged ; Aortography/*methods ; Female ; Fibroma/*radiography/*surgery ; Heart Neoplasms/*radiography/*surgery ; Humans ; Papillary Muscles/*radiography/*surgery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/*methods ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: To contrastive analyze the population characteristics and individual variations of enhancement modes of normal pancreas and aorta at intravenous injection rates of 3 mL/s and 2 mL/s. METHODS: Sixty-seven patients with normal pancreas were selected, and were divided randomly into 2 groups with different intravenous injection rates (3 mL/s for 35 patients in Group A and 2 mL/s for 32 patients in Group B). Single-level serial dynamic CT scan was performed at the level where the pancreas was best demonstrated. The enhancement values of pancreas and aorta for each time point of each patient were calculated, and the time-density curves of enhancement of pancreas and aorta of each patient were obtained. The peak enhancement and the time to reach the peak enhancement of pancreas and aorta of each individual patient were evaluated, and the 2 groups were compared. The individual variations of the enhancement modes of pancreas and aorta in each group were analyzed. RESULTS: The peak enhancement of pancreas was (75.7+/-17.0) Hu at (43.9+/-6.6) s for Group A, and (66.5+/-16.0) Hu at (55.2+/-5.0) s for Group B; the peak enhancement of aorta was (226.2+/-35.2) Hu at (35.4+/-4.5) s for Group A, (182.8+/-32.8) Hu at (48.0+/-3.7) s for Group B. There were significant differences in both the peak enhancement and the time to reach the peak enhancement of pancreas and aorta between the 2 groups. The coefficients of variation of time to reach the peak enhancement for pancreas and aorta were 15.0% and 12.7% in Group A, and 9.2% and 7.7% in Group B, respectively. The temporal windows of the optimal enhancement of pancreas were (9.7+/-4.5)s and (13.7+/-3.6)s in Group A and B, respectively. CONCLUSION Better enhancement of pancreas and aorta is obtained at 3 mL/s than 2 mL/s, the time to reach the peak enhancement of pancreas and aorta is comparatively earlier at 3 mL/s than 2 mL/s, and the temporal windows of optimal enhancement of pancreas and aorta are comparatively shorter at 3 mL/s than 2 mL/s.
Adult ; Aged ; Aorta ; Aortography ; methods ; Contrast Media ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreas ; diagnostic imaging ; Spiral Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; methods ; Young Adult

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the value of multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) angiography for the diagnosis of congenital aortic arch anomalies and present the radiological images of congenital aortic arch anomalies in Chinese children. MDCT angiography and transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) were applied for the diagnosis of congenital aortic arch anomalies in 362 Chinese children between May 2006 and December 2011 (age ranges from 5 days to 12 years; mean age, 3.3 years). Surgery and/or catheter angiography (CA) were conducted in all patients to confirm the final diagnosis. In the 362 Chinese children with congenital heart anomalies, congenital aortic arch anomalies were definitely diagnosed in 198 children and 164 children ruled out by operation and/or (CA). Among the 198 children with anomalies, coarctation of aorta (CoA), interruption of aortic arch (IAA), right aortic arch, aberrant right subclavian artery and double aortic arch were diagnosed in 134, 32, 20, 10 and 2 children respectively, and there were 6 cases with uncommon congenital aortic arch anomalies: 2 had double aortic arch including 1 with five branches of the aortic arch, 2 had isolation of the right subclavian artery with two patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), 1 had an isolation of the common carotid artery with a PDA, and 1 had double PDA with a single ventricle and pulmonary artery atresia. Among the 32 children with IAA, 28 were of type A, and 4 were of type B. The diagnostic sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of MDCT angiography for congenital aortic arch anomalies were 100% (198/198), 98% (161/164) and 99% (359/362), respectively. The diagnostic sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of TTE were 92% (182/198), 81% (133/164) and 87% (315/362), respectively. In conclusion, MDCT angiography is a reliable, noninvasive imaging technique for the diagnosis of congenital aortic arch anomalies in children. Sometimes, even more information can be obtained from this technique than from conventional angiography.
Abnormalities, Multiple ; diagnostic imaging ; Aorta, Thoracic ; abnormalities ; diagnostic imaging ; Aortic Arch Syndromes ; diagnostic imaging ; Aortography ; methods ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Multidetector Computed Tomography ; methods ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the indications, methodology and results of the transcatheter closure of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) with the new Amplatzer Duct Occluder II (ADO-II).

METHODTotally 51 patients underwent transcatheter closure of PDA with the new ADO-II. The devices were delivered by 4F or 5F sheath through arterial or venous side respectively. The descending aorta angiography and transthoracic echocardiography was performed to evaluate the device position, residual shunt and complications caused by the device during and after implantation.

RESULTForty-nine patients had successful transcatheter closure of the PDA without significant residual shunts and artery obstruction during the short-term follow-up. One patient received the ADO-II dislodgment and first generation ADO re-implantation for the obvious descending aortal obstruction caused by ADO-II. Another patient had the ADO-II dislodgment and left pulmonary artery shaping surgery, because the ADO-II implantation led to obstruction of the left pulmonary artery. Both the obstructions in these two patients were ameliorated afterwards.

CONCLUSIONThe transcatheter closure using the ADO-II is safe and effective for the non-window type PDA with a small size.

Adolescent ; Aortography ; Cardiac Catheterization ; instrumentation ; methods ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Ductus Arteriosus, Patent ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Echocardiography, Doppler ; methods ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Prosthesis Design ; Pulmonary Embolism ; epidemiology ; etiology ; surgery ; Reoperation ; Septal Occluder Device ; Treatment Outcome

Due primarily to the increasing shortage of allogeneic donor organs, xenotransplantation has become the focus of a growing field of research. Currently, micropigs are the most suitable donor animal for humans. However, no standard method has been developed to evaluate the systemic vascular anatomy of micropigs and standard reference values to aid in the selection of normal healthy animals as potential organ donors are lacking. Using 64-channel multidetector row computed tomographic angiography (MDCTA), we evaluated morphological features of the major systemic vessels in micropigs and compared our results to published human data. The main vasculature of the animals was similar to that of humans, except for the iliac arterial system. However, diameters of the major systemic vessels were significantly different between micropigs and humans. Specifically, the diameter of the aortic arch, abdominal aorta, external iliac artery, and femoral artery, were measured as 1.50 +/- 0.07 cm, 0.85 +/- 0.06 cm, 0.52 +/- 0.05 cm, and 0.48 +/- 0.05 cm, respectively, in the micropigs. This MDCTA data for micropig major systemic vessels can be used as standard reference values for xenotransplantation studies. The use of 64-channel MDCTA enables accurate evaluation of the major systemic vasculature in micropigs.
Animals ; Aorta/*anatomy & histology ; Aortography/veterinary ; Femoral Artery/*anatomy & histology/radiography ; Humans ; Iliac Artery/*anatomy & histology/radiography ; Male ; Reference Values ; Swine ; Swine, Miniature/*anatomy & histology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methods/*veterinary ; *Transplantation, Heterologous

No abstract available.
Aortic Coarctation/complications/physiopathology/*ultrasonography ; Aortography/methods ; Collateral Circulation ; Humans ; Hypertension/etiology/physiopathology/*ultrasonography ; Male ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Regional Blood Flow ; Renal Artery/physiopathology/*ultrasonography ; *Renal Circulation ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; *Ultrasonography, Doppler ; Young Adult