ABSTRACT
Computed tomography (CT) scanning of the heart permits evaluation of both the coronary arteries and left ventricular function, if data sets are reconstructed throughout the cardiac cycle. Left ventricular volumes can be computed by dedicated software after automated contouring of the left ventricular cavity. These software algorithms either apply Simpson’s rule or calculate left ventricular volumes based on the actual number of voxels within the left ventricular cavity. Myocardial perfusion imaging is of interest in the evaluation of patients suspected of having coronary artery disease since it may reflect the hemodynamic impact of a coronary stenosis. CT perfusion imaging is limited by several technical issues. Crude anatomical information regarding cardiac valve function can be derived from the same data used for left ventricular function evaluation. Several studies have reported on the potential of delayed-enhanced CT scanning to detect and quantify infarct size after myocardial infarction.
