Diagnosis of Mediastinal Venous Abnormalities in Congenital Heart Diseases by Dual-Source Computed Tomography

Objective To investigate the values of dual-source computed tomography(DSCT)angiography in diagnosis of mediastinal venous abnormalities in congenital heart disease.Materials and Methods The DSCT data of 62 patients(39 males and 23 females,17 days-29 years old)with mediastinal venous abnormalities were analysised retrospectively.Abnormalities of superior vena cava,brachiocephalic vein,azygos vein,hemiazygos vein,pulmonary veins and coronary vein were evaluated.Results There were 63 mediastinal venous abnormalities confirmed by operation in our 62 patients,one of which had both persistent left superior vena cava(PLSVA)and hemiazygos vein anomaly.The accurate rate of DSCT was 100%.There were 29 PLSVA,included 24 PLSVA drained into right atrium through coronary sinus,4 drained into the left atrium directly,and 1 demonstrated a pair of superior vena cava import into a single atrium respectively.Fifteen left brachiocephalic venous anomalities including left brachiocephalic vein beneath the aortic arch(n=12),left brachiocephalic vein above the aortic arch and behind innominate artery(n=1),retroesophageal left brachiocephalic vein(n=1),and the left brachiocephalic vein divided into two branches(n=1)were detected.There were 15 anomalous pulmonary venous drainage,included totle type(n=11)and partial type(n=4).A child with ventricular septal defect and pulmonary hypertension had pulmonary varices.Two patients with tetralogy of Fallot had an unroofed coronary sinus.One inferior vena cava interruption showed a dilatated half-azygos vein drained into PLSVA.Conclusion DSCT has important clinical value in diagnosis of mediastinal venous abnormalities in congenital heart disease before operation.