MSCT In Congenital Heart Disease

Congenital heart disease is a common health problem. To plan for effective management of congenital heart disease, one needs the clearest understanding of the anatomy and the complex cardiovascular abnormalities; especially the extra-cardiac morphology.

 Echocardiography and cardiac catheterization are the traditional imaging modalities used to diagnose congenital heart disease. Echocardiography is limited by the small field of view and difficulty in delineating extra-cardiac vascular structures. Cardiac catheterization is an invasive modality.

 Multislice computed tomography (MSCT) allows volume acquisition in seconds and provides unlimited 3D and 2D vascular images, even for neonates and infants. Today MSCT could take a place prior to cardiac catheterization as complementary modality for echocardiography in the diagnosis and surgical planning of congenital heart disease.