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Semin Respir Crit Care Med 2014; 35(01): 050-063
DOI: 10.1055/s-0033-1363451
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Integrated Cardiothoracic Imaging with Computed Tomography

Lucas L. Geyer
1   Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
2   Institute for Clinical Radiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Hospital, Munich, Germany
,
Justin R. Silverman
1   Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
,
Aleksander W. Krazinski
1   Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
,
Pal Suranyi
1   Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
,
James G. Ravenel
1   Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
,
Stefan Wirth
2   Institute for Clinical Radiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Hospital, Munich, Germany
,
Philip Costello
1   Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
,
U. Joseph Schoepf
1   Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
30 January 2014 (online)

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Abstract

The respiratory and the cardiovascular systems are intimately connected. Because of the high degree of morphological and functional interaction, pathophysiological processes in one compartment are likely to induce adaptive changes in the other. Computed tomography (CT) plays a central role in the diagnostic work up of both thoracic and cardiac disorders. Historically, these two systems have been evaluated separately; however, CT technology has evolved remarkably over recent decades. Up-to-date advanced imaging strategies allow for a combined assessment of the cardiopulmonary unit. Besides improved techniques of electrocardiogram (ECG)-synchronization for obtaining both morphological and functional information, latest advances of dual-source CT (DSCT) have shown great promise for even more comprehensive integrated cardiothoracic imaging.

Keywords

chest imaging - heart disease - lung diseases - cardiopulmonary comorbidities - computed tomography angiography - dual-source computed tomography
 

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