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[Functional imaging of the heart with electron-beam computed tomography]
Purpose:
Electron-beam computed tomography (EBCT) enables examinations with a very short acquisition time of 50 ms and thus permits cardiac imaging without motion artifacts. Utilizing eight detector rings simultaneous image acquisition in up to eight levels and complete imaging of the whole heart is possible. In studies, functional imaging with EBCT was compared to our angiocardiography, echocardiography, radionuclide, ventriculography and magnetic resonance tomography.
Materials And Methods:
ECG-triggered long- and short-axis cine studies were performed with the Imatron C-150 Evolution, acquiring 160 and 156 images at 8 and 12 levels. After manual tracing of epicardial and endocardial borders, ventricular size, ejection fraction, wall-thickening and myocardial mass were calculated.
Results:
A very high correlation between EBCT and direct determination of right and left ventricle (r = 0.98 and r = 0.99) was demonstrated. Compared to echocardiography, angiocardiography and radionuclide ventriculography, assessment of ventricular function was more precise and more reliable.
Discussion:
EBCT allows the exact and reliable determination of left and right ventricular function. Also precise assessment of myocardial mass is possible. However, the high radiation exposure and diagnostic effort have to be considered.