Cardiovascular computed tomography angiography in newborns and infants with suspected congenital heart disease: retrospective evaluation of low-dose scan protocols

Twelve infants (body weight, 3.59 +/- 1.36 kg) with congenital heart disease underwent a clinically indicated cardiovascular computed tomography angiography (CTA) study. Retrospectively, we investigated the feasibility and diagnostic capability of different non-electrocardiogram-triggered CTA protocols and assessed radiation doses. Scans were performed on a 256-multislice CT (MSCT) scanner with the vendor-preset helical protocol at 120 kV for babies, with axial single-shoot scans at 120 kV and 80 kV. The 80-kV protocol led to significantly reduced mean effective doses of 0.29 +/- 0.08 mSv (P=.017) and renders diagnostic image quality. All major cardiovascular defects were detected on MSCT, and all images were of diagnostic quality. (c) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.