en.Wedoany.com Reported - A study from Kyushu University, published in the journal Radiology, suggests that low-dose dynamic X-ray imaging may help expand accessibility for assessing the severity of pulmonary valve regurgitation after surgical repair of Tetralogy of Fallot.

Pulmonary valve regurgitation is a common long-term complication following such surgery, and if left untreated, may increase the risk of cardiac arrest. Currently, there is a diagnostic gap between basic echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which is costly and requires specialized equipment and expertise, typically available only at specialized institutions. Additionally, some patients cannot undergo MRI due to incompatible pacemakers, defibrillators, or claustrophobia. The Kyushu University research team explored the potential of using dynamic digital radiography (DDR) systems to expand diagnostic options, which can be performed on standard X-ray systems produced by companies such as Shimadzu and Konica Minolta.

This technique requires patients to hold their breath for just 7 seconds to capture continuous chest images, quantifying hemodynamics by analyzing temporal changes in pulmonary artery pixel values and converting them into waveforms. Tested on 58 post-surgery patients and 14 healthy volunteers, the results showed an accuracy rate of 93%. Unlike MRI or CT, this examination requires no contrast agents and involves extremely low radiation exposure, approximately 0.2 mSv, far below the 6 mSv of a standard chest CT.

Tetralogy of Fallot is the most common cyanotic congenital heart disease, affecting approximately 1 in every 3,500 newborns. Dr. Yuzo Yamasaki, first author of the study and assistant professor at the Radiology Center of Kyushu University Hospital, stated that with advances in surgical techniques and patient care, over 90% of patients survive into adulthood, but monitoring the severity of pulmonary valve regurgitation is crucial for determining the timing of treatment. The research team noted that this new technology could improve diagnostic accessibility and reduce healthcare costs. Dr. Yamasaki revealed that dynamic cardiac radiography (DCR) might also be used to diagnose other cardiac conditions such as heart failure and pulmonary hypertension, and the team plans to conduct a multicenter study to further validate the findings and promote the establishment of DCR in routine clinical practice.

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