Anatomical Assessment of Congenital Heart Disease

Abstract

Cardiac MRI (CMR) is replacing diagnostic cardiac catheterization as the modality of choice for anatomic and functional characterization of congenital heart disease (CHD) when echocardiographic imaging is insufficient. In this manuscript, we discuss the principles of anatomic imaging of CHD, placing emphasis on the appropriate choice and modification of pulse sequences necessary to evaluate infants and small children. Clinical examples are provided to illustrate the relative strengths and shortcomings of different CMR imaging techniques. Although cardiovascular function and flow techniques are not described, their role in evaluating the severity of anatomic defects is emphasized. Anatomic characterization represents the first component of a carefully-planned, integrated CMR assessment of CHD.

Routine clinical cardiovascular magnetic resonance in paediatric and adult congenital heart disease: patients, protocols, questions asked and contributions made

“…These findings support the previously stated hypothesis [ 12 - 14 ] that CMR in paediatric and adult CHD is a tool for answering questions regarding specific individual morphology and hemodynamic function of known anatomy. This is in contrast to the perception that the primary goal of CMR in paediatric and adult CHD is to describe the location and anatomy of a congenital heart defect [ 15 - 18 ].…”

Pediatric Cardiac MRI

“…Despite the inherent flow related artifacts of the cine TFE sequence, this sequence is still preferred over SSFP for morphologic evaluation of extra-cardiac vascular pathology (Fig. 4), especially in smaller patients (Wood 2006 manufacturer, is acquired with breath-holding, and yields excellent quality images for intracardiac morphology and ventricular function (Fig. 5).…”