Keywords:
Imaging sequences, CT-Angiography, CT, Cardiac, Prostheses
Authors:
R. P. J. Budde, M. L. Dijkshoorn, J. Bekkers, L. E. Swart, M. van Straten, K. Nieman, G. P. Krestin; Rotterdam/NL
Purpose
CT is a valuable technique for prosthetic heart valve (PHV) assessment
CT helps identify the cause of PHV dysfunction including obstructive masses (pannus/thrombus) and endocarditis (vegetations,
mycotic aneurysms). Retrospective ECG-gated CTA is most often used with reconstructions at each 5-10% of R-R interval which are needed to dynamically assess leaflet motion and anatomy.
Howver,
this results in high radiation exposure for the patient.
Furthermore,
the ideal scan protocol would include not only a contrast enhanced ECG-gated acquisition with reconstructions at each 5-10% R-R interval but also a non contrast enhanced scan to assess calcifications and a delayed phase scan of entire chest for potential abcesses in endocarditis.
But this results in an even higher radiation exposure.
We present our initial results with a novel CT acquisition protocol for comprehensive PHV assessment at limited dose using a 3rd generation dual source CT and iterative reconstruction.