Anatomy and function of the heart and intrathoracic vessels in congenital heart disease: evaluation with the Dynamic Spatial Reconstructor.

The Dynamic Spatial Reconstructor is a unique high speed volume imaging X-ray scanner based on computed tomographic principles. It has several potential advantages over conventional angiographic methods, including reduced invasion, reduced rate of false negative results and increased accuracy of measurements of structure and function. To evaluate the utility of the Dynamic Spatial Reconstructor in the investigation of congenital heart disease, scanning was performed in several pediatric patients with pulmonary valve atresia. Early results show that three-dimensional images of the cardiac chambers and intrathoracic vessels can be acquired and displayed with the system. All the information necessary for quantitative analysis of the pulmonary arteries can be obtained with a single scan involving injection of 0.6 to 2.0 cc/kg of contrast agent and radiation exposure of 0.54 to 0.95 rad/s over 5 to 8 seconds.