Chapter 1: Basics and Performance of Cardiac Computed Tomography 3 Xavier Alomar-Serrallach, Ernesto Castillo-Gallo, Guillem Pons-Llado 1. 1 Introduction 3 1. 2 Historical Perspective of Computed Tomography 3 1. 3 Basic Principles of Multidetector Computed Tomography in the Study of the Heart 4 1. 3. 1 Detectors 5 1. 3. 2 Image reconstruction 5 1. 3. 3 Temporal resolution 7 1. 3. 4 Spatial resolution 7 1. 3. 5 Control of radiation dose 8 1. 4 Performance of a Cardiac MDCT Study 9 1. 4. 1 Preparation of the patient 9 1. 4. 2 Image acquisition and contrast administration 9 1. 4. 3 Image...