Current and evolving clinical applications of multidetector cardiac CT in assessment of structural heart disease

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Imaging
• Radiology
• Cardiac CT

Background:

• Multidetector computed tomography (CT) is established for coronary artery disease evaluation.
• Beyond coronary assessment, MDCT provides detailed noncoronary cardiac and pulmonary venous anatomy.
• MDCT is increasingly recognized for periprocedural evaluation in structural heart interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review noncoronary cardiac structures evaluated by multidetector CT.
• To outline established and evolving clinical applications of MDCT in cardiac imaging.
• To highlight MDCT's role in assessing structural heart disease and periprocedural planning.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature and clinical applications of multidetector CT.
• Focus on noncoronary cardiac structures and their anatomical assessment.
• Analysis of MDCT's utility in electrophysiology and percutaneous structural interventions.

Main Results:

• MDCT provides essential anatomical information for electrophysiology procedures.
• MDCT plays a key role in periprocedural evaluation for transcatheter aortic valve replacement and left atrial appendage occlusion.
• MDCT is increasingly used alongside echocardiography and MRI for comprehensive cardiac assessment.

Conclusions:

• Multidetector CT is a versatile tool for evaluating noncoronary cardiac structures.
• MDCT has established and emerging roles in diagnosing structural heart disease and guiding interventions.
• MDCT serves as a complementary imaging modality for detailed cardiac evaluation.