Patent ductus arteriosus CT


 * Associate Editor-In-Chief: Priyamvada Singh, M.B.B.S. [mailto:psingh@perfuse.org],, Assistant Editor-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.

Computed tomography
Computed tomography (CT) can be used as a diagnostic modality in congenital heart diseases. Advantages


 * Provides additional anatomic details compared to echocardiography
 * It is done faster compared to MRI, thus avoiding the need for anesthesia in small children.

Disadvantage


 * Costly
 * Radiation can have long terms side-effect on growing children.