Severe anaemia: Its CT findings in the cardiovascular system

Computed tomography of the upper abdomen and of the heart was performed in 21 patients with severe anaemia (mean haematocrit value 0.23, mean haemoglobin content 39.6%). Gross morphology of the heart and great vessels (wall thickness, size of the chambers, lumina and walls of the vessels) were visualized in all patients without the use of contrast media. The smallest discernible difference between the normal heart muscle and blood filling its cavities was about 6-8 H and the smallest discernible difference between the aorta and the aortic blood was about 8-10 H (window width 150 H, window level 50 H). There were no CT signs of haemochromatosis of the heart, while CT measurements were highly suggestive of liver haemochromatosis in several cases. Visual evaluation of liver density in comparison to the density of blood in hepatic and portal vessels is misleading. (orig.)