Computed tomographic imaging of the heart: the dynamic spatial reconstructor.

A particularly important potential value of the Dynamic Spatial Reconstructor approach is that all the above data will be obtainable from a single injection of contrast agent into the right ventricle or pulmonary artery. On the basis of preliminary experimental data, a concentration of at least 80 mg of iodine per ml of contrast agent should be present in the aortic root for adequate opacification of the coronary arteries and myocardium; a bolus of at least 0.5 ml of contrast medium per kg, injected into the venous circulation, is required. As high-speed, volumetric imaging, computed tomographic scan machines such as the Dynamic Spatial Reconstructor become available with higher density resolution, perhaps a single injection of contrast agent into the right atrium or even a peripheral vein may be adequate to obtain all these measurements.