Micropigs are the most likely source animals for xenotransplantation. However, an appropriate method for evaluating the lung of micropigs had not been established. Therefore, this study was performed to evaluate the feasibility of 64-channel multi-detector row computed tomography (MDCT) to measure the diameter of the pulmonary arteries and the lung volume in micropigs. The mean diameters of the trachea, and left and right bronchi were 1.6 +/- 0.17, 1.18 +/- 0.14, and 1.1 +/- 0.11 cm, respectively. The mean diameters of the main, right, and left pulmonary arteries were 1.38 +/- 0.09, 1.07 +/- 0.26, and 0.98 +/- 0.13 cm and the diameters of right, left, and common inferior pulmonary veins were 0.97 +/- 0.20, 0.76 +/- 0.20, and 1.99 +/- 0.26 cm, respectively. The mean lung volume was 820.3 +/- 77.11 mL. The data presented in this study suggest that the MDCT may be a noninvasive, rapid, and accurate investigational method for pulmonary anatomy in living lung donors.
Animals ; Humans ; Lung/physiology/*radiography ; Organ Size/physiology ; Pulmonary Artery/physiology/*radiography ; Swine ; Swine, Miniature/*anatomy & histology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/*methods ; Transplantation, Heterologous/*methods

OBJECTIVE: To assess perfusion patterns on a dual-energy pulmonary CT angiography (DECTA) of pulmonary hypertension (PHT) with variable causes and to assess whether the extent of perfusion defect can be used in the severity assessment of PHT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between March 2007 and February 2011, DECTA scans of 62 consecutive patients (24 men, 38 women; mean age, 58.5 +/- 17.3 [standard deviation] years; range, 19-87 years) with PHT were retrospectively included with following inclusion criteria; 1) absence of acute pulmonary thromboembolism, 2) maximal velocity of tricuspid regurgitation jet (TR Vmax) above 3 m/s on echocardiography performed within one week of the DECTA study. Perfusion patterns of iodine map were divided into normal (NL), diffuse heterogeneously decreased (DH), multifocal geographic and multiple peripheral wedging patterns. The extent of perfusion defects (PD), the diameter of main pulmonary artery (MPA) and the ratio of ascending aorta diameter/MPA (aortopulmonary ratio, APR) were measured. Pearson correlation analysis was performed between TR Vmax on echocardiography and CT imaging parameters. RESULTS: Common perfusion patterns of primary PHT were DH (n = 15) and NL (n = 12). The perfusion patterns of secondary PHT were variable. On the correlation analysis, in primary PHT, TR Vmax significantly correlated with PD, MPA and APR (r = 0.52, r = 0.40, r = -0.50, respectively, all p < 0.05). In secondary PHT, TR Vmax significantly correlated with PD and MPA (r = 0.38, r = 0.53, respectively, all p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Different perfusion patterns are observed on DECTA of PHT according to the causes. PD and MPA are significantly correlated with the TR Vmax.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Aorta/physiopathology ; Aortography ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary/physiopathology/*radiography ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pulmonary Artery/physiopathology/*radiography ; Pulmonary Circulation/physiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/*methods ; Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency/physiopathology/radiography ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDPulmonary artery sling (PAS) is a rare congenital heart anomaly and may cause unexplained respiratory symptoms in infants. Since the non-specific respiratory symptoms of PAS may lead to misdiagnosis, the aim of this study was to clarify the clinical and imaging features of this disease for timely diagnosis and treatment.

METHODSClinical histories, physical examinations and imaging studies were retrospectively evaluated in nine infants with PAS. Chest X-ray, echocardiography and contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) with 3-dimensional reconstructions were performed in all patients and three of them received surgical treatment.

RESULTSNine cases included six males and three females with a mean age of (4.3 ± 2.8) months ranging from 2 to 11 months old. All patients had respiratory symptoms including recurrent cough, stridor and wheezing. The onset of symptoms was within 3 months in all cases and three children had symptoms only a few days after birth. The chest X-ray showed pneumonia in all cases. Contrast-enhanced CT showed the tracheal compression at different lengths in every case. The echocardiograph findings of PAS were anomalous origins of the left pulmonary artery from the posterior aspect of the right pulmonary artery. Of the 9 cases, 8 cases were diagnosed correctly by echocardiography. Of the complicated abnormalities, there were one with secundum atrial septal defect, one with patent foramen ovale and three with persistent left superior vena cava. None of them were complicated with significant blood dynamic changes.

CONCLUSIONSInfants with recurrent respiratory symptoms such as chronic cough, stridor and wheezing, should be examined for the possible presence of congenital pulmonary artery sling. As a noninvasive technique, echocardiography is very helpful and should be the first-choice modality for the diagnosis of pulmonary artery sling. Contrast-enhanced CT, clearly demonstrating the anatomy of pulmonary artery sling and the position and extent of trachea compression, is necessary for the final diagnosis and pre-operation evaluation.

Echocardiography ; Female ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Hemodynamics ; physiology ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Pulmonary Artery ; abnormalities ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Radiography