[Diagnostic value of 64 multislice CT in typing of congenital aortic anomaly in neonates and infants].

OBJECTIVE

To study diagnostic value of 64 multislice CT in typing of congenital aortic anomaly in neonates and infants.

METHODS

120 pediatric patients (under one year of age) with congenital heart disease (CHD) underwent 64 contrast-enhanced MSCT before a corrective operations. The diagnostic sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of 64 MSCT were evaluated and also compared with those of echocardiography with Doppler. The patients were randomly assigned to two groups (72 and 48 persons) respectively according to tube tension of 80 and 100 kV. The differences of the image qualities were compared between them.

RESULTS

36 congenital aortic anomalies were found (36/120, 30%) by 64 MSCT, which were furtherly distinguished into 2 cases in double aortic arch, 2 cases in left-sided aortic arch with aberrant right subclavian artery, 22 cases in right aortic arch (6 cases in right-sided aortic arch with aberrant left subclavian artery, 12 cases in right aortic arch with mirror image branching), 10 cases in coarctation of aorta. Diagnostic sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of 64 MSCT were all 100%. By contrast, those of echocardiography with Doppler were 27.8%, 97.6%, 76.7%, respectively. The quality scores were 4.69 ± 0.52, 4.58 ± 0.58 at 80 kV and 100 kV, respectively. No significant statistical difference was found between them (t = 1.08, P = 0.28).

CONCLUSION

MSCT allows a detailed assessment of the anatomy of congenital aortic anomaly, which can be used as an important supplementary method in diagnosing CHD and offer important information for operation. 80 kV should be selected in CHD patients less than one year old for CT examination to reduce radiation exposure.