The International Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging

Nagel, Eike

doi: 10.1023/A:1014395606192pmid: 12135117

Chamuleau, Steven; van Eck-Smit, Berthe; Meuwissen, Martijn; Piek, Jan

doi: 10.1023/A:1014372125457pmid: 12135122

Wang, Po-Hui; Chen, Gin-Den; Lin, Long-Yau

doi: 10.1023/A:1014392309528pmid: 12135118

Objective: When the fetal spine is in anterior position, it shadows the fetal heart, resulting in the difficult visualization using two-dimensional (2D) ultrasound. The purpose of this study was to compare the basic cardiac views of normal fetuses between 2D and 3D ultrasound to demonstrate whether 3D ultrasound improved the visualization of these views in fetuses in anterior spine positions. In addition, inter- and intra-observation reliabilities of basic cardiac views using 3D ultrasound were evaluated for their clinical applicability. Methods: Using a multiplanar technique, integrated 3D ultrasound was used to display the four-chamber view, aortic outflow tract and pulmonary outflow tract in fetuses in anterior spine positions for 23 uncomplicated singleton pregnant women. The imaging visualizations of these views for the 23 fetuses in 3D ultrasound were compared with those in 2D ultrasound using the McNemar test. We also evaluated the inter- and intra-observation differences of each basic cardiac view in 3D ultrasound using the κ statistic and McNemar test, respectively. Results: Only in the pulmonary outflow tract, 3D ultrasound had significantly better visualization than the 2D ultrasound in the fetuses in anterior spine positions (p < 0.05). There was good inter-observation reliability and no intra-observation differences for the technique were observed. Conclusions: Among the basic cardiac views in fetuses in anterior spine positions, 3D ultrasound improved the visualization of pulmonary outflow and provided reliable alternate technique for clinical use.

Kasprzak, Jarosław; Borkowski, Michał; Rogowski, Waldemar; Drożdż, Jarosław; Krzemińska-Pakuła, Maria

doi: 10.1023/A:1014344415888pmid: 12135119

Muscular interventricular septum is an extremely rare location for congenital aneurysm. A 48-year-old patient with a muscular interventricular septum aneurysm coexisting with atrial septal defect, pulmonary stenosis and ventricular preexcitation is presented. Three-dimensional echocardiographic reconstruction of the lesion aided in a precise morphologic and quantitative assessment of the condition. The review of 10 previously reported patients with the entity is presented.

Fragasso, Gabriele; Chierchia, Sergio; Dosio, Flaviano; Rossetti, Enrico; Gianolli, Luigi; Picchio, Maria; Margonato, Alberto; Fazio, Ferruccio

doi: 10.1023/A:1014373209524pmid: 12135120

Background: There are no published data in the literature on the scintigraphic perfusion pattern in patients with myocardial infarction (MI) and normal coronary arteries (NCA) Objectives: To evaluate myocardial perfusion imaging in a series of patients with MI and NCA. Methods: Twenty-seven patients who had developed a MI and had NCA were studied. As a control group we included 27 patients with a recent MI and coronary artery disease (CAD). All patients underwent stress/rest tetrofosmin myocardial perfusion SPECT within 6 months from MI. Results: In patients with NCA tetrofosmin stress images revealed 41 hypoperfused segments in 17 patients (63%). On rest images, 13 segments remained unchanged, 4 showed partial reperfusion, 10 normalized and 14 worsened. Additionally, there were 18 new hypoperfused segments in nine patients. Therefore, perfusion worsened at rest in 18 patients (67%) (32 segments). Overall, at rest there were 49 hypoperfused segments in 22 patients (81%). In patients with CAD, stress images revealed 71 hypoperfused segments. On rest images, 39 segments remained unchanged, 16 showed partial reperfusion and 12 normalized. Four segments worsened at rest and only four patients (15%) showed new perfusion defects at rest. Conclusions: Myocardial perfusion with tetrofosmin might appear considerably worse at rest than at stress in patients with MI and NCA. Specifically, a reverse perfusion pattern in the infarct area is a frequent finding and is likely to be due to residual tissue viability. We postulate that in these patients the hyperemic response to exercise may mask resting underperfusion areas.

Tulevski, I.I.; Romkes, H.; Dodge-Khatami, A.; van der Wall, E.E.; Groenink, M.; van Veldhuisen, D.J.; Mulder, B.J.M.

doi: 10.1023/A:1014315329767pmid: 12135121

Petersen, Steffen; Voigtländer, Thomas; Kreitner, Karl-Friedrich; Kalden, Peter; Wittlinger, Thomas; Scharhag, Jürgen; Horstick, Georg; Becker, Dietmar; Hommel, Gerhard; Thelen, Manfred; Meyer, Jürgen

Vrachliotis, Thomas; Bis, Kostaki; Sajady, Nazifa

doi: 10.1023/A:1014346727271pmid: 12135125

Faridah, Yang; Julsrud, Paul

doi: 10.1023/A:1014350814067pmid: 12135126

Although much have been published regarding congenital absence of pericardium, it is essential that this anomaly, like an old friend, be revisited from time to time. Review of this anomaly with emphasis on its embryological process is discussed. Furthermore, with the advances in magnetic resonance imaging, absence of pericardium can now be diagnosed with ease and the radiological findings of this condition are reviewed as well.