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Updated: Nov 2, 2025
Implantation of Total Artificial Heart in Congenital Heart Disease
Published on: July 18, 2014
CT evaluation of unrepaired/incidental congenital cardiovascular diseases in adults
Arash Bedayat1, Mohammad H Jalili1, Cameron Hassani1
1Department of Radiological Sciences, Thoracic and Diagnostic Cardiovascular Imaging, David Geffen School of Medicine, 90095 Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Insights
Congenital heart disease (CHD) affects many adults, often remaining undiagnosed until later in life. Computed tomography (CT) advances improve the detection and diagnosis of these adult CHD cases.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Cardiology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Congenital heart disease (CHD) impacts approximately one million individuals in the USA, with a 5% annual increase.
- While often diagnosed in infancy, subclinical CHD can remain undetected until late adulthood.
- Complex CHD cases typically present with symptoms and are diagnosed earlier than single defects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the spectrum of congenital heart diseases (CHDs) persisting into adulthood.
- To highlight the importance of recognizing specific imaging attributes of CHDs on CT for accurate diagnosis by radiologists.
Main Methods:
- Review of adult congenital heart disease (CHD) cases.
- Utilizing advances in computed tomography (CT) technology for detailed cardiac morphology and function evaluation.
Main Results:
- Computed tomography (CT) technology enables more sensitive detection and thorough diagnosis of CHD.
- Radiologists can identify and diagnose a spectrum of adult CHDs through CT imaging.
Conclusions:
- Advances in CT technology enhance the diagnosis of adult congenital heart disease (CHD).
- Radiologists play a crucial role in identifying and diagnosing adult CHD by understanding specific CT imaging findings.
Abstract:
Congenital heart disease (CHD) affects approximately one million people in the USA with the number increasing by 5% each year. Patients are usually both diagnosed and treated in infancy, however many of them may have subclinical CHD that remains undiagnosed until late adulthood. Patients with complex CHD tend to be symptomatic and are diagnosed at a younger age than those with a single defect. CHDs can be divided into three categories, including cardiac, great vessels and coronary artery anomalies. Recent advances in computed tomography (CT) technology with faster acquisition time and improved spatial resolution allow for detailed evaluation of cardiac morphology and function. The concomitant increased utilization of CT has simultaneously led to more sensitive detection and more thorough diagnosis of CHD. Recognition of and understanding the imaging attributes specific to each anomaly is important for radiologists in order to make a correct and definite diagnosis. This article reviews the spectrum of CHDs, which persist into adulthood that may be encountered by radiologists on CT.
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