[Applications of multi-slice computed tomography imaging in children with congenital heart diseases].

Recently-devised 3-dimensional (3D) diagnostic modalities such as magnetic resonance imaging and multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) allow visualization of the heart and great vessels from any angle of view and perspective. Among them, the MSCT examination provides highly contrasted 3D images of complicated congenital heart diseases (CHD) and is now widely used instead of cardiac angiography. Here we introduce several applications of the MSCT examination in children with CHD. The MSCT examinations were performed without electorocardiogram (ECG)-gating in order to minimize radiation exposure. The 3D images of CHDs were exhibited with color-coded reconstruction to visualize clearer images of arteries and veins. The tortuous arteries and veins in the hypoplastic left heart, total anomalous pulmonary venous drainage, pulmonary atresia and ventricular septal defect associated with major aortopulmonary collateral arteries are clearly visualized with non-ECG-gated MSCT, which were very informative for cardiac surgery. We are now trying to make plastic replicas of complicated CHDs by the use of laser stereolithography technique. These replicas can be used for simulations of each surgical operation and for development of novel surgical procedures. The MSCT is a promising tool for the precise diagnosis and planning of surgical operation in complicated CHDs.