Echocardiographic findings in patent ductus arteriosus-associated infective endarteritis.

BACKGROUND: Infectious endarteritis associated with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA-IE) is an uncommon complication in the era of antibiotics. However, it implies a clinical challenge in patients with a fever of undetermined origin; Two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) performs a fundamental role in diagnosis and follow-up. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was then made of the data of all patients admitted at our center with PDA-IE within 15 years, and a review of the literature regarding diagnosis, TTE findings, and treatment was performed. RESULTS: A total of 17 patients were identified. The mean age was 17.8 years. The TTE done in all patients confirmed the PDA and PA vegetations diagnosis; in five cases, one vegetation was present; in three cases, two vegetations were found, and in the nine remaining cases, three or more vegetations were observed. In two-thirds of the cases, the vegetations' size was 3 to 28 mm, and the principal morphology was filiform. In all cases, at least one of the vegetations was developed in the DA's lateral wall. Pulmonary valve (PV) was affected in 41% of the patients and caused low to moderate valvular regurgitation. Pulmonary embolism was present in 7 cases and pulmonary aneurism in one case. CONCLUSIONS: Decreased incidence of PDA-IE has been currently achieved with early antibiotic therapy. However, today, this complication carries a significant risk of valve damage and other cardiac structures' involvement.

Applicability of the Leiden Convention and the Lipton Classification in Patients with a Single Coronary Artery in the Setting of Congenital Heart Disease.

In single coronary artery (SCA) anatomy, all coronary tributaries arise from a single ostium, providing perfusion to the entire myocardium. Coronary classification systems can facilitate the description of SCA anatomy. Aim: Evaluation of the applicability of Lipton classification and the Leiden Convention coronary coding system in SCA. Methods: All patients (n = 6209) who underwent computed tomography (CT) scanning between 2014 and 2018 were retrospectively examined for the presence of SCA and classified, according to Lipton classification and the Leiden Convention coronary coding system. Results: The prevalence of SCA was 0.51% (32/6209). Twenty-eight patients (87.5%) had coexisting congenital heart disease (CHD), most frequently pulmonary atresia (9/32, 28.1%). Ten patients (10/32, 31.25%) could not be classified with either the Leiden Convention or Lipton classification (pulmonary atresia n = 9, common arterial trunk (CAT) n = 1). In one case with CAT, Lipton classification, but not the Leiden Convention, could be applied. In two cases with the transposition of the great arteries and in two cases of double outlet right ventricle, the Leiden Convention, but not the Lipton classification, could be applied. Conclusions: Both classifications are useful to detail information about SCA. As Lipton classification was not developed for structural heart disease cases, in complex CHD with abnormal position of the great arteries, the Leiden Convention is better applicable. The use of both systems is limited in pulmonary atresia. In this scenario, it is better to provide a precise description of the coronary origin and associated characteristics that might affect treatment and prognosis.

Evaluación de tumores cardiacos por tomografía computada multidetector y resonancia magnética cardiaca / Evaluation of cardiac tumors by multidetector computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging

Resumen Los tumores cardiacos constituyen una patología poco frecuente (0.002-0.3%) en todos los grupos de edad, sin embargo tienen importancia clínica por el órgano que comprometen. Se clasifican en primarios (benignos o malignos) y secundarios (metástasis). De los primarios el mixoma es el tumor benigno más común, y el sarcoma representa la mayoría de las lesiones malignas. Las metástasis cardiacas son más frecuentes que los tumores primarios. Las manifestaciones clínicas de los tumores cardiacos son poco específicas y varían de acuerdo a su localización, tamaño y agresividad. El uso de tomografía computada multidetector (TCMD) y resonancia magnética (RM) nos ayuda a tener conocimiento de la localización, el tamaño, las relaciones anatómicas y el compromiso de las estructuras adyacentes; además, la RM ayuda a la caracterización tisular del tumor. Es por eso que los estudios en imagen cardiovascular no invasiva tienen un papel importante en la caracterización de estas lesiones y su diagnóstico diferencial entre ellas.

Abstract Cardiac tumors, are a rare pathology (0.002-0.3%) in all age groups, however, they have a clinic importance, due the affected organ. They are classified in primary (benign or malignant) and secondary (metastasis) types. Among primary type, mixoma, is the most common benign tumor, and sarcoma represents most of the malignant injuries. Cardiac metastasis are more frequent than primary tumors. Clinic effects of cardiac tumors are unspecific and vary according their location, size and agresivity. The use of Multidetector Computed Tomography (MDCT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) assist on the location, sizing, anatomical relationships and the compromise of adyacents structures, besides, MRI is useful for tissue characterization of the tumor. Due to the previous reasons, studies based on noninvasive cardiovascular imaging, have an important role on the characterization of these lesions and the differential diagnosis among them.

[Evaluation of cardiac tumors by multidetector computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging]. / Evaluación de tumores cardiacos por tomografía computada multidetector y resonancia magnética cardiaca.

Cardiac tumors, are a rare pathology (0.002-0.3%) in all age groups, however, they have a clinic importance, due the affected organ. They are classified in primary (benign or malignant) and secondary (metastasis) types. Among primary type, mixoma, is the most common benign tumor, and sarcoma represents most of the malignant injuries. Cardiac metastasis are more frequent than primary tumors. Clinic effects of cardiac tumors are unspecific and vary according their location, size and agresivity. The use of Multidetector Computed Tomography (MDCT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) assist on the location, sizing, anatomical relationships and the compromise of adyacents structures, besides, MRI is useful for tissue characterization of the tumor. Due to the previous reasons, studies based on noninvasive cardiovascular imaging, have an important role on the characterization of these lesions and the differential diagnosis among them.

Dual-source 256-MDCT for diagnosis of anomalous pulmonary venous drainage in pediatric population.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to describe the MDCT findings of anomalous pulmonary venous drainage (APVD) in a pediatric population using a 256-MDCT dual-source scanner with a high-pitch protocol. CONCLUSION: MDCT is a fast and noninvasive technique that allows detailed and comprehensive visualization of APVD characteristics in a pediatric population. High-pitch acquisitions with scanners using a high volume of coverage permit low radiation doses and are an accurate modality for assessing these patients.

Left ventricular noncompaction: a proposal of new diagnostic criteria by multidetector computed tomography.

BACKGROUND: Left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) is a cardiomyopathy characterized by a noncompacted myocardial layer in the left ventricle, primarily diagnosed by echocardiographic and magnetic resonance criteria. Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) is an imaging method that has been increasingly used in cardiac evaluation. However, tomographic criteria to diagnose LVNC have not been determined. OBJECTIVES: We assessed the structural characteristics of LVNC with MDCT and proposed tomographic criteria that may differentiate LVNC from healthy subjects and patients with other cardiomyopathies that might be associated with increased myocardial trabeculation. METHODS: Between March 2007 and June 2009 we studied 10 consecutive patients with LVNC diagnosed by echocardiogram and/or magnetic resonance imaging who underwent electrocardiogram-gated coronary CT angiography. We evaluated the ratio of noncompacted to compacted myocardium (NC/C ratio) in end diastole in each of the 17 segments established by the American Heart Association (excluding the apex). The results were compared with 9 healthy subjects, 14 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and 17 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy to determine the cutoff that would distinguish patients with LVNC. RESULTS: When considering involvement of more than 1 segment, the NC/C ratio of 2.2 distinguished pathologic noncompaction, with sensitivity and specificity of 100% and 95%, respectively. In addition, the involvement of ≥2 segments allows the distinction of all patients with LVNC from other cardiomyopathies and from healthy subjects. CONCLUSIONS: LVNC can be accurately diagnosed with MDCT when using a cutoff NC/C ratio of 2.2 at end diastole involving ≥2 segments.

Cor triatriatum sinister versus bowed septum primum in an infant with total anomalous pulmonary venous connection: a difficult imaging distinction.

In cor triatriatum sinister, a membrane divides the left atrium into a posterior chamber that receives the pulmonary veins and an anterior chamber that communicates with the mitral valve. With right-side chamber overload, the septum primum can separate from the muscular septum and bow toward the left atrial cavity, leading to a thin membrane within the left atrium and imaging findings that may mimic cor triatriatum. We report the multidetector CT findings of a 3-month-old infant with a supracardiac total anomalous pulmonary venous connection with a bowed septum primum. A description of the imaging findings that distinguish cor triatriatum and bowed septum primum will be discussed. This case demonstrates the usefulness of MDCT in the assessment of supracardiac vascular anomalies and intracardiac anatomy.