Comparison of low-dose sequences of dual-source CT and echocardiography for preoperative evaluation of aortic valve disease

Background Accurate evaluation of coronary artery, aortic valve annulus diameter (AVAD), and cardiac function in patients with aortic valve disease is of great significance for surgical strategy. In this study, we explored the preoperative evaluation of low-dose sequence (MinDose sequence) scan of dual-source CT (DSCT) for those patients.

Methods Forty patients suspected for aortic valve disease (the experimental group) underwent MinDose sequence of DSCT to observe coronary artery, AVAD, and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Another 33 subjects suspected for coronary artery disease (the control group) underwent conventional retrospective electrocardiographically-gated sequence of DSCT. Two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography (2D-TTE) and four-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography (4D-TTE) were applied in the experimental group to measure AVAD and LVEF and compared with MinDose-DSCT.

Results There was a strong correlation between LVEFs measured by 2D-TTE and MinDose-DSCT (r=0.87, P <0.01), as well as between 4D-TTE and MinDose-DSCT (r=0.90, P <0.01). AVAD measured by MinDose-DSCT was in good agreement with corresponding measurements by 2D-TTE (r=0.90, P <0.01). The effective dose in the experimental group was 63.54% lower than that in the control group.

Conclusions MinDose sequence of DSCT with a low radiation dose serving as a one-stop preoperative evaluation makes effective assessment of the coronary artery, AVAD, and LVEF for patients with aortic valve disease.