Premature baby with congenital heart disease

Jean-Francois Paul, MD, Centre Chirurgical Marie Lannelongue, Le Plessis-Robinson, France; Andreas Blaha, Business Unit CT, Siemens Healthcare, Forchheim, Germany

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Abstract:  premature baby was referred to the radiology department with diagnosis of congenital heart disease. An atrial and left ventricular septum defect could be detected with echocardiography, but with a doubt about the exact origin and course of right pulmonary artery (RPA). Therefore a low-dose CT examination was requested, utilizing low kilovoltage (kV) and low milliampere seconds (mAs) to achieve ultra low dose radiation values.

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Diagnosis

Congenital heart disease (CHD)

Findings

A mild stenosis present at the ostium of the right pulmonary artery could be observed. Although the RPA showed an irregularity, it had a normal anatomical course. The ventricular septum defect as well as the still open atrial septum could be clearly revealed by using oblique planar reformations. The right coronary artery was well depicted despite a heart rate of 157 bpm.

Discussion

The data acquisition was performed with a SOMATOM Definition Flash using the ECG-triggered sequential mode (Flash Cardio Sequence), which resulted in an ultra low dose value. Calculated with the dose length product (DLP) of 0.7, an estimated dose of 0.05 mSv could be achieved.

Conclusion

Using the Definition Flash low-dose acquisition technique, it was possible to detect this congenital heart disease (CHD) in a very early stage of the patient’s life.

Tables & Figures

  • Figure 1. CT imaging with VRT technique shows ventricular septal defect (arrows) and persistent foramen ovale (PFO, arrowheads).
    Figure 1.
  • Figure 2. Ventricular septal defect in MIP technique (caudo-cranial view, arrow); PFO (arrowhead).
    Figure 2.
  • Figure 3. Caudo-cranial view MIP shows mild stenosis and irregularity of the RPA (arrow).
    Figure 3.
  • Figure 4. Cranio-caudal view in VRT-technique.
    Figure 4.
  • Figure 5. Fused VRT and MIP highlighting RPA (arrow).
    Figure 5.
  • Table 1.
    Figure Table 1.