Ali Nazım Güzelbağ, Burcu Çevlik, İsa Özyılmaz, Hatice Dilek Özcanoğlu, Selin Sağlam, Osman Nuri Bayrak, Behzat Tüzün, Ali Can Hatemi, Erkut Öztürk, Serap Baş
Comprehensive Medicine - 2025;17(4):286-295
Objective: Congenital heart disease (CHD) is one of the most common congenital anomalies worldwide, necessitating detailed imaging for accurate diagnosis and surgical planning. While transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) serves as the first-line imaging modality, it may be insufficient in evaluating complex intracardiac and extracardiac structures. Cardiac computed tomography angiography (CTA) has emerged as a valuable complementary technique in pediatric patients, offering high-resolution anatomical visualization with relatively low radiation exposure. This study aims to retrospectively assess the role of cardiac CTA in the anatomical evaluation and clinical management of pediatric patients diagnosed with CHD at a tertiary care center. Materials and Methods: Pediatric patients who underwent cardiac CTA between January 1, 2021, and September 1, 2025, were retrospectively analyzed. Demographic data, clinical findings, radiation dose, and contrast volume were evaluated. Both intracardiac and extracardiac anomalies were examined in detail. Results: A total of 1,337 pediatric patients (mean age: 3.89 years; 56% male) were evaluated using cardiac CTA. The most common diagnoses were coarctation of the aorta (7.87%), Tetralogy of Fallot (7.5%), and double outlet right ventricle (6.38%). CTA demonstrated high diagnostic accuracy in assessing critical anatomical features such as the spatial relationships of the great vessels, coronary anomalies, and abnormal venous connections. Conclusion: Cardiac CTA facilitates detailed anatomical assessment in pediatric CHD patients, supporting surgical planning and improving clinical outcomes. Keywords: Cardiac computed tomography angiography (CTA), congenital heart disease (CHD), pediatric cardiology
