Computed tomography angiography of congenital left-sided obstructive heart lesions: a pictorial essay

Congenital left-sided obstructive heart lesions (LSOLs) are a group of rare but serious congenital heart diseases. They encompass a spectrum of structural abnormalities that can obstruct blood flow at any point from the left atrium to the aortic arch. They are broadly divided into two main categories. The first is left ventricular inflow obstruction, including cor triatriatum sinister and congenital mitral stenosis. The second is left ventricular outflow obstruction, including subvalvular aortic stenosis, bicuspid aortic valve, supravalvular aortic stenosis, coarctation of the aorta, aortic arch hypoplasia, and interrupted aortic arch. When stenosis involves both left ventricular inflow and outflow obstructions, the condition is called Shone's syndrome. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) is a valuable tool for the diagnosis, treatment planning, and follow-up of LSOLs. Our goal is to review the CTA manifestations of LSOLs to better understand these congenital heart lesions.