Pediatric Cardiothoracic CT Guideline Provided by the Asian Society of Cardiovascular Imaging Congenital Heart Disease Study Group: Part 2. Contemporary Clinical Applications

The use of pediatric cardiothoracic CT for congenital heart disease (CHD) was traditionally limited to the morphologic evaluation of the extracardiac thoracic vessels, lungs, and airways. Currently, the applications of CT have increased, owing to technological advancements in hardware and software as well as several dose-reduction measures. In the previously published part 1 of the guideline by the Asian Society of Cardiovascular Imaging Congenital Heart Disease Study Group, we reviewed the prerequisite technical knowledge for clinical applications in a user-friendly and vendor-specific manner. Herein, we present the second part of our guideline on contemporary clinical applications of pediatric cardiothoracic CT for CHD based on the consensus of experts from the Asian Society of Cardiovascular Imaging CHD Study Group. This guideline describes up-to-date clinical applications effectively in a systematic fashion.

Pediatric Cardiothoracic CT Guideline Provided by the Asian Society of Cardiovascular Imaging Congenital Heart Disease Study Group: Part 2. Contemporary Clinical Applications

The use of pediatric cardiothoracic CT for congenital heart disease (CHD) was traditionally limited to the morphologic evaluation of the extracardiac thoracic vessels, lungs, and airways. Currently, the applications of CT have increased, owing to technological advancements in hardware and software as well as several dose-reduction measures. In the previously published part 1 of the guideline by the Asian Society of Cardiovascular Imaging Congenital Heart Disease Study Group, we reviewed the prerequisite technical knowledge for clinical applications in a user-friendly and vendor-specific manner. Herein, we present the second part of our guideline on contemporary clinical applications of pediatric cardiothoracic CT for CHD based on the consensus of experts from the Asian Society of Cardiovascular Imaging CHD Study Group. This guideline describes up-to-date clinical applications effectively in a systematic fashion.

Congenital coronary artery fistula in children:The interventional management and outcome / 介入放射学杂志

Objective To assess the safety and efficacy of transcatheter closure of congenital coronary artery fistulas(CAFs).Methods Retrospective analysis was performed on 19 patients mean age of(5.5?4.1) years treated from February 1995 to December 2005 with transcatheter closure of CAFs using transcatheter spring coil embolization,Amplatzer PDA occluder or Amplatzer plug.One case had a residul fistula postoperatively associated with patent duetus arteriosus(PDA).Results The abnormal parameters included mean fistula diameter(3.7?1.6)mm(2.5-8.2 mm),pulmonary mean pressure(28.0?5.0)mmHg(25.0-67.0 mmHg)and pulmonary to systemic shunt(Qp/Qs)1,6?0.8(1.0-2.3).The sites of the fistulas were originated in right coronary artery 11,left anterior descending coronary artery or left circumflex coronary artery 8. Abnormal communication sites of these fistulas were to right ventricle in 14 and right atrium in 5.Various occlusion devices used to close these fistulas included one Giantureo coil in 10,2-4 Gianturco coils in 3, Duct-Occlud in 3,Amplatzer duct occluder in 2 and Amplatzer plug in 1.The post-operative residul fistula with PDA was treated successfully with PDA occlusion.The immediate,one month and one year complete occlusion rates were 55.6%(10/18),88.9%(16/18),100%(18/18),respectively.The coil slipped into the left pulmonary artery in 1 case and correction was obtained by retrieving with forceps.Follow-up studies at 3 months to 4.3 years showed complete abolition of shunt in all patients with no evidence of recanalization leading to recurrences of shunt.Conclusion Transcatheter closure of CAFs is a safe and effective alternative to surgical repair.

[Changes of visual field and visual evoked potential in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients after radiotherapy].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Radiotherapy is the main treatment for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). The incidence of radiation-induced complications, especially radiation optic neuropathy (RON), increases along with prolonging survival time of the patients. This study was to investigate RON in NPC patients after irradiation by visual field and visual evoked potential (VEP) tests. METHODS: A total of 28 NPC patients, who underwent conventional external-beam irradiation, received visual field and VEP tests before irradiation, at the end of irradiation, and 5 years after irradiation. RESULTS: Thirty-four (60.7%) eyes in 21 patients developed pathological visual field; 15 (44.1%) of these 34 eyes occurred within 10-24 months after irradiation. Of the 34 eyes, 8 showed concentric visual field constriction; 6 showed bitemporal hemianopia; 8 showed local photosensitivity descend; 10 showed central or cecocentral scotoma; 2 showed scotoma enlargement. Forty-four (78.6%) eyes in 26 patients appeared VEP abnormity; 24 (54.5%) of these 44 eyes occurred within 14 months after irradiation. In small, medium, and large elements, VEP latencies were significantly longer within 1 year after irradiation than pre-irradiation (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, and P=0.001); VEP amplitudes were lower within 1 year after irradiation than pre-irradiation without significant difference (P=0.249, P=0.940, and P=0.450). One year after treatment, VEP latency delay maintained in each element (P=0.004, P < 0.001, P < 0.001); VEP amplitudes were decreased (P=0.002, P=0.189, P < 0.001). The incidence of pathologic visual field was significantly lower in patients received irradiation of < or =70 Gy than in patients received irradiation of > 70 Gy (50.0% vs. 77.3%, P=0.041). CONCLUSIONS: RON correlates to total irradiation dose. Pathologic visual field may indicate the position of RON.

Transcatheter closure of secundum atrial septal defect in children / 中华儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>This study was undertaken to investigate the indication, methodology and complication of transcatheter closure of secundum atrial septal defect (ASD). ASD transcatheter occlusion techniques have become alternative to surgical procedures. A number of different devices are available for transcatheter ASD closure. The type and incidence of complications depend partially upon different devices.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A retrospective analysis was performed on the patients treated from October 1998 to January 2003. Transcatheter closure of ASD with Amplatzer septal occluder (ASO) was performed in 119 patients, of whom 3 patients were multiple ASD, 3 associated with pulmonary stenosis (PS) and 3 patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). The age of the cases ranged from 0.8 to 17 years (mean 7.5 +/- 2.8 years) and the body weight ranged from 6.7 to 88 kg (mean 23.7 +/- 7.8 kg). They all met with criteria for transcatheter closure. The balloon-stretched diameter of ASD was determined with fluoroscopy, ultrasound and measuring plate. A choice of device size was identical to or 1 approximately 2 mm larger than the stretched diameter (SD). A simultaneous PDA closure with device or balloon dilation was done in six cases associated with PDA or PS, respectively. Follow-up was performed based on the echocardiographic and clinical findings.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In 119 cases examined with transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) or trans-thoracic echocardiography (TTE), ASD mean diameter was (12.9 +/- 5.6) mm (6.5 - 34.5 mm), pulmonary mean pressure was (29.0 +/- 5.0) mmHg (25.0 - 62.0 mmHg), and SD was (15.7 +/- 4.8) mm (8.0 - 38.0 mm). The diameters of these devices were (15.0 +/- 5.0) mm (8 - 38 mm). The devices were successfully implanted in 112 cases. Of them, 3 patients had multiple ASD with one device occlusion. 6 cases associated with PDA or PS were treated successfully with PDA occlusion or balloon dilatation, respectively. The immediate, one month and one year complete occlusion rates were 93.8% (105/112), 97.3% (109/112) and 98.2% (110/112), respectively. Residual shunt remained in 2 cases. No complication occurred except transient atrial premature beats and grade II type 1 A-V block in 5 cases (4.5%) and 1 cases (0.9%), respectively. The whole time period of the procedure ranged from 25 to 68 minutes. The total follow up period was from one month to 4.3 years. No unsatisfactory device position or embolization or clinical evidence of bacterial arteritis was found during the follow-up period.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Transcatheter closure of secundum ASD using the ASO is a safe and effective alternative to surgical repair. Transcatheter closure of secundum ASD associated with small anterior, inferior or posterior rim is feasible using ASO. ASO can be performed in infants and young children only if the diameter of disk is smaller than the diameter of atrial septum. Multiple ASD is not the contraindication for intervention. If the diameter of ASD is over 36 mm, the device choice should depend on the maximum diameter of ASD determined with echocardiography. TTE is suitable for the smaller ASD and TEE for the bigger ASD. It is very important to avoid air embolism and atrial perforation during the procedure.</p>

Impairment of optic path due to radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the impairment of optic path caused by radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). METHODS: Visual evoked potential was used to evaluate the functional impairment of optic path by an 8 MV linear accelerator or 60Co gamma-ray radiotherapy in 63 (23 women and 40 men) patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma before radiotherapy, at the end of radiotherapy, 6 months and 1, 2 and 3 years after their radiotherapy respectively. RESULTS: In the female group, the latency of VEP elicited by the three types of elements significantly delayed 2 and 3 years after radiotherapy than that before radiotherapy, at the end of radiotherapy, 6 months and 1 year after radiotherapy; there were no significant difference among VEP amplitudes elicited by the three types of elements before and after radiotherapy. In the male group, the latency of VEP elicited by the medium and the small elements significantly delayed 1 year after radiotherapy than that before radiotherapy and at the end of radiotherapy, the VEP latency elicited by the small elements was significantly prolonged 3 years after radiotherapy compared to that just after radiotherapy, while the VEP amplitude elicited by the large elements was significantly attenuated 1 year after radiotherapy compared to those before and just after radiotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: In the female group, the significant prolongation of VEP latency happened at the end of radiotherapy and lasted for 3 years, while the VEP amplitude did not change significantly during the 3 years after radiotherapy. It indicates that the sustained impairment by radiation within the female visual nerve system starts at the end of radiotherapy, but the impairment was mild. In the male group, the significant prolongation of VEP latency mostly happened 1 or 2 years after radiotherapy. It was shown that the radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma certainly injured the optic path, and there was difference in the impairment between the two sexes.