Role of multi-slice CT angiography in the evaluation of pulmonary venous anomalies

Purpose and aimTo assess the role of MSCT angiography in evaluation of extra-cardiac vascular abnormalities in pulmonary venous anomalies and compare it with echocardiography.Materials and methodsThis study included 26 patients with an age range of 15 days–25 years. All of these patients underwent MSCT angiography and echocardiography. Only 10 patients underwent cardiac catheterization.ResultsOur initial experience showed that MSCT is capable of complementing echocardiography and replacing diagnostic cardiac catheterization for anatomical delineation if performed with an optimum technique.MSCT angiography proved to be a worthy primary investigation tool in patients whom ECHO has been able to clearly identify the intracardiac anatomy, but not the extra-cardiac vascular anatomy.ConclusionMDCT correctly depicted the TAPVR (Total anomalous pulmonary venous return) and PAPVR (Partial anomalous pulmonary venous return) types of pulmonary venous anomalies with sensitivity 100%, and specificity 100%. The specificity of echocardiography was 50% for both findings. Inspite of the risk of ionizing radiation and contrast medium injection the adoption of our minimal invasive, low radiation, non-ECG gated protocol greatly reduces the time, radiation dose, and contrast medium volume needed to perform an optimum CT angiographic technique. Thus, paving a clear road map for pre and post operative assessment of patients with pulmonary venous anomalies.