Fast retrospectively gated quantitative four-dimensional (4D) cardiac micro computed tomography imaging of free-breathing mice

Objective: We sought to demonstrate retrospectively gated dynamic 3D cardiac micro computed tomography (CT) of free-breathing mice. Materials and Methods: Five C57B16 mice were scanned using a cone-beam scanner with a slip-ring-mounted flat-panel detector. After the injection of an intravascular iodinated contrast agent, projection images were acquired over the course of 50 seconds, while the scanner rotated through 10 complete rotations. The mouse respiratory and electrocardiogram signals were recorder simultaneously with image acquisition. After acquisition, the projection images were retrospectively sorted into projections belonging to different cardiac time points, occurring only during expiration. Results: Dynamic 3D cardiac images, with isotropic 150-mu m voxel spacing, were reconstructed at 12-millisecond intervals throughout the cardiac cycle in all mice. The average ejection fraction and cardiac output were 58.2 +/- 4.6% and 11.4 +/- 1.3 mL/min, respectively. The measured entrance dose for the entire scan was 28 cGy. Repeat scans of the same animals showed that intrasubject variability was smaller than intersubject variability. Conclusions: We have developed a high-resolution micro computed tomography method for evaluating the cardiac function and morphology of free-breathing mice in acquisition times shorter than 1 minute.