Persistent truncus arteriosus on dual source CT

Persistent truncus arteriosus is a rare congenital cardiac disease with variable presentation. The exact preoperative diagnosis and delineation of anatomy are very important because the optimal timing and procedure for truncus arteriosus repair are decided on the basis of the morphological characteristics. Moreover, the presence of associated anomalies influences the surgical outcome and mortality in these patients. Dual-source computed tomographic evaluation with three-dimensional post-processing is highly valuable for delineating its precise morphology and to identify and characterize the associated anomalies. Also depiction of the precise aortic arch morphology and simultaneous evaluation of the airway are very useful in treatment planning. This pictorial review provides an overview of the imaging spectrum of truncus arteriosus and various associated anomalies as seen on dual-source computed tomography.