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May 9, 2026Journal of the American College of Cardiology

Computed tomography of the heart: Evaluation of anatomy and function

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Key result

Cardiac CT evaluates anatomy and function well, but slow exposure times limit routine cardiovascular use.

Why the study?

Computed tomographic scanning has potential as an ideal cardiac imaging modality but current scanners have limitations in speed and application for cardiovascular imaging.

Design

Review of computed tomography techniques for cardiac imaging

Authors

MLMartin J. LiptonAmerican College of CardiologyCHCharles B. HigginsAmerican College of CardiologyDBDouglas P. BoydLangley Research Center

Discussion

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Implication

This review highlights the emerging potential of computed tomography for cardiac imaging, emphasizing the need for faster scanning technologies to overcome motion artifacts and accurately evaluate cardiac anatomy and function.

Key Points

  • To review the capabilities and technical limitations of computed tomography for evaluating cardiac structure, chamber dimensions, and cardiovascular hemodynamics.
  • Assessed conventional computed tomography scanners with 1- to 5-second exposure times using intravenous contrast enhancement and dynamic or electrocardiographically gated imaging.
  • Evaluated multiplanar computer reconstruction capabilities in oblique, coronal, and sagittal projections for cardiac chamber and vascular visualization.
  • Examined a prototype cine computed tomography scanner utilizing scanning electron beam technology capable of acquiring up to eight contiguous slices at 16 to 24 images per second.
  • Conventional gated and dynamic computed tomography enabled accurate quantitative measurements of cardiac chamber volumes, shunt flows, cardiac output, and myocardial wall thickening.
  • Standard exposure speeds of 1 to 5 seconds proved inadequate for high-resolution motion-free imaging across general cardiovascular applications.
  • Ultrafast electron beam cine scanners resolved temporal limitations by capturing multiple contiguous slices at high frame rates, supporting expanded clinical diagnostic utility.

Structured PICO

E
Exposure
Computed tomography of the heart

This review highlights the emerging potential of computed tomography for cardiac imaging, emphasizing the need for faster scanning technologies to overcome motion artifacts and accurately evaluate cardiac anatomy and function.

Limitations

  • Currently available computed tomographic scanners have exposure speeds of 1 to 5 seconds, which are inadequate for the majority of cardiovascular imaging applications.

Cite This Study

Lipton et al. (1985) conducted a review in Diseases of the heart and blood vessels. Computed tomography of the heart was evaluated. Computed tomographic scanning of the heart shows potential for evaluating cardiac anatomy and function, though current exposure speeds of 1 to 5 seconds limit most cardiovascular applications.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69fea7a74625cd62ab19a9efhttps://doi.org/10.1016/s0735-1097(85)80145-5
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