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Updated: Mar 27, 2026
Echocardiographic Evaluation of Atrial Communications before Transcatheter Closure
Published on: February 8, 2022
Chamber dimensions and functional assessment with coronary computed tomographic angiography as compared to
Michael Rose1, Bernard Rubal1, Edward Hulten2
1Cardiology Service MCHE-MDC, San Antonio Military Medical Center, Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, TX, USA.
Insights
Coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) measurements of normal cardiac chamber dimensions do not correlate with transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) findings. This study establishes CCTA reference ranges for cardiac dimensions in patients with normal cardiac function.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Imaging
- Radiology
- Cardiac Morphology
Background:
- Correlation between cardiac chamber dimensions measured by CCTA and TTE is not well-established.
- Standard American Society of Echocardiography guidelines are used for measurements.
- Retrospective ECG-gated CCTA and TTE are common cardiac imaging modalities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare cardiac chamber linear dimensions measured by CCTA and TTE.
- To establish reference ranges for CCTA-derived cardiac dimensions.
- To assess the correlation between CCTA and TTE measurements in patients with normal cardiac morphology and function.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of CCTA and TTE studies performed within 90 days (January 2005-July 2011).
- Manual calculation of cardiac dimensions using American Society of Echocardiography guidelines.
- Left ventricular ejection fraction calculated using Simpson's formula (TTE) and end-diastolic/end-systolic volumes (CCTA).
Main Results:
- 120 cases were included after reviewing 532 studies.
- No correlation found between CCTA and TTE measurements using Bland-Altman analysis.
- Reference ranges for CCTA cardiac dimensions were generated for both genders.
Conclusions:
- CCTA measurements of cardiac chamber dimensions do not correlate with TTE measurements in patients with normal cardiac morphology and function.
- Findings support the development of CCTA-based reference ranges.
- This aids in utilizing CCTA for assessing cardiac dimensions according to established echocardiography guidelines.
Background:
The correlation between normal cardiac chamber linear dimensions measured during retrospective coronary computed tomographic angiography as compared to transthoracic echocardiography using the American Society of Echocardiography guidelines is not well established.
Methods:
We performed a review from January 2005 to July 2011 to identify subjects with retrospective electrocardiogram-gated coronary computed tomographic angiography scans for chest pain and transthoracic echocardiography with normal cardiac structures performed within 90 days. Dimensions were manually calculated in both imaging modalities in accordance with the American Society of Echocardiography published guidelines. Left ventricular ejection fraction was calculated on echocardiography manually using the Simpson's formula and by coronary computed tomographic angiography using the end-systolic and end-diastolic volumes.
Results:
We reviewed 532 studies, rejected 412 and had 120 cases for review with a median time between studies of 7 days (interquartile range (IQR25,75) = 0-22 days) with no correlation between the measurements made by coronary computed tomographic angiography and transthoracic echocardiography using Bland-Altman analysis. We generated coronary computed tomographic angiography cardiac dimension reference ranges for both genders for our population.
Conclusion:
Our findings represent a step towards generating cardiac chamber dimensions' reference ranges for coronary computed tomographic angiography as compared to transthoracic echocardiography in patients with normal cardiac morphology and function using the American Society of Echocardiography guideline measurements that are commonly used by cardiologists.
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