CT for assessing ventricular remodeling: is it ready for prime time?

Reliable assessment of left ventricular size and systolic function has important prognostic and therapeutic implications for patients with heart disease. CT technology is advancing rapidly and can be used for noninvasive assessment of the coronary anatomy. Without additional radiation or contrast, the already acquired image data set can be used for analysis of left ventricular size, mass, and systolic function. In comparison with other noninvasive modalities, multidetector CT has superior spatial resolution but temporal resolution has suffered. Recent advances, including multisegment reconstruction and dual-source scanning, have improved the temporal resolution substantially. MRI is the current gold standard for assessing the left ventricle. Many small comparative studies suggest that CT has good agreement with MRI and that it could potentially replace MRI in some patients, especially those with internal cardiac devices. The use of CT to assess ventricular remodeling is limited by the use of contrast and radiation, but its widespread availability, ease of use, and improved temporal resolution suggest that multidetector CT will have expansive use in the future.