Evaluation of coronary arteries in congenital heart disease in children: diagnostic comparison of electrocardiogram-gated and non-electro-cardiogram-gated computed tomography cardiac angiography

Purpose: To compare the visualization and anatomy of coronary arteries in children (≤ 2 years) with congenital heart disease (CHD) on non-electrocardiogram (ECG)-gated and ECG-gated computed tomography angiography (CTA).

Material and methods: In this retrospective study, approved by the Ethics Committee of our institute, evaluation of coronary arteries in CHD was performed in 40 children on non-ECG-gated CTA and in 42 children on ECG-gated CTA. The origin and course of the right coronary artery (RCA), left main coronary artery (LMCA), left anterior descending (LAD) artery, and left circumflex (LCX) artery were evaluated by 2 paediatric radiologists independently.

Results: ECG-gated CT scans yielded increased (additional) visualization of all the coronary arteries, when compared to non-ECG-gated CT scans. The RCA, LMCA, LAD artery, and LCX artery were visualized in 47.5%, 62.5%, 55%, and 32.5% of children, respectively, on non-ECG-gated studies, while they were visualized in 64.3%, 92.8%, 80.9%, and 62% children, respectively, on ECG-gated studies. The coronary artery anatomical variations were also supplementarily detected more in the ECG-gated group (23.8%) than in the non-ECG gated group (2.5%).

Conclusions: ECG-gated CT cardiac angiography studies yield enhanced diagnostic outcomes for the evaluation of the coronary arteries in comparison to non-ECG-gated studies.