Comprehensive evaluation of anomalous pulmonary venous connection by electron beam CT / 中华胸心血管外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Ovbective To evaluate the role of electron beam computed tomography (EBCT) in diagnosis of anomalous pulmonary venous connection. Methods Retrospective analysis on 20 cases diagnosed as anomalous pulmonary venous connection by EBCT. The slice thickness and scan time was 1.5～3mm and 100ms respectively. 3～4ml/s non-ionic contrast medium was injected. Three-dimensional reconstruction of EBCT images was carried out in all cases with special workstation. Meanwhile,ultrasound echocardiography was performed on all patients and conventional cardiovascular angiography was performed on 10 patients as control. 14 cases were operated. Results (1) 4 patients with total anomalous pulmonary venous connection and 16 patients with partial pulmonary venous connection were diagnosed by EBCT preoperatively. (2) Compared with the findings from operations (14 cases),CT results (14 cases) corresponded well in 13 cases and corresponded partially in other 1 case. Meanwhile,ultrasound echocardiography (14 cases) only corresponded partially in 2 case and suggested suspected APVC (without any exact number and connective location of APVC were mentioned) in other 8 cases. Cardiovascular angiography was performed in 6 of 14 cases and APVC was found in 4 of them. (3) In 6 non-operation cases,four underwent conventional cardiovascular angiography. APVC were diagnosed in 2 only of these 4 cases. Meanwhile,the diagnoses of these 6 cases were all confirmed by CT ultrasound,echocardiography didn't yield positive findings of APVC. Conclusion EBCT might be significantly superior to UCG and angiography in the detection of anomalous pulmonary venous connection. According to our experience,EBCT with 3-D reconstruction was a noninvasive,effective method in the diagnosis of APVC.