Atrial septal defect CT


 * Associate Editor(s)-In-Chief: Priyamvada Singh, M.B.B.S. [mailto:psingh@perfuse.org]; ; Assistant Editor(s)-In-Chief: Kristin Feeney, B.S. [mailto:kfeeney@perfuse.org]

Overview
Computed tomography can be helpful as a diagnostic tool in conditions where the echocardiographic findings are inconclusive. It is not the technique of choice as it has limitations in defining shunt volume and pressure differences.

Advantages

 * Provides additional anatomic details compared to echocardiography.
 * Helps in visualization of the aberrant pulmonary venous return (seen in sinus venosus defect).
 * Done faster compared to MRI.
 * Avoids the need for general anesthesia in children.
 * Can identify associated heart anomalies.

Disadvantages

 * Costly
 * Radiation can have long terms side-effect on growing children.
 * Not a modality for detecting or quantify a defect
 * Not a modality for quantifying shunt volume and pressure differences