An application of x-ray computed tomography for complex cardiac anomalies

X-ray computed tomography (CT) was performed in two patients with complex congenital heart disease in order to assess the clinical utility in the systemic morphological diagnosis. A Somotom 2 whole body CT scanner (Siemens Co) was used, and contrast enhanced CT scannings and a dynamic CT scanning were performed in one case (Case 2).; Case 1: A 20-year-old female with double outlet right ventricle (S, D, L), pulmonary stenosis and aortic insufficiency. The CT revealed a visceroatrial situs, ventriculoarterial relation, spatial interrelationship between the great arteries and a run of the stenotic pulmonary artery. The CT clarified spatial relationship among four cardiac chambers, ventricular septal defect and great arteries, contributing to the understanding of the complex cardiac structure. Case 2: A 26-year-old female with single ventricle (III-C solitus), pulmonary stenosis, dextroversion, left superior vena cava and WPW syndrome. The CT documented precisely a visceroatrial situs, dextroversion, ventriculoarterial relation, spatial interrelationship between the great arteries, stenotic main and left pulmonary arteries and a dilated right pulmonary artery due to the right Blalock-Taussig operation performed 15 years before. A diagnosis of left superior vena cava could be made by CT, and its flow into coronary sinus was visualized by dynamic CT. The dynamic CT also clarified a mixing of venous and arterial blood in the common ventricle, and revealed a rudimentary ventricular septum. Thus, the CT serves useful purposes especially as examination of visceroatrial situs, ventriculoarterial relation and spatial interrelationship between great arteries, and anomalies of the mediastinal vessels. Furthermore the relationship among four cardiac chambers, ventricular septal defect, and the pattern of blood flow were also clarified. (J.P.N.)