Electron Beam Tomography in Cardiopulmonary Imaging

Abstract

At The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, electron beam computed tomography (EBCT) is the imaging modality of choice in evaluating chest and cardiovascular disease. In the chest, most EBCT studies are performed to define lung nodules, masses, infiltrative disease, and interstitial fibrosis. In the heart, EBCT is useful for assessing anatomy as well as cardiac function, including such quantitative indices as ejection fraction (EF), stroke volume (SV), chamber volume, diastolic filling, and myocardial mass determinations. EBCT also has the capability of assessing intracardiac thrombus and wall motion abnormalities as well as the pericardium and great vessels. In the above applications, the short acquisition time of the EBCT scanner allows for the artifact-free assessment of the mediastinum, lung, heart, and major vessels — all of which may be blurred when imaged with scanners with 1 s or longer scan times. This paper will discuss EBCT scanning in cardiopulmonary disease.