Congenital heart disease: gated MR imaging in 72 patients.

Abstract

Seventy-two patients (aged 2 months to 75 years; mean 23 years) with a variety of congenital anomalies of the heart and great vessels underwent ECG-gated magnetic resonance (MR) imaging using the multisectional spin-echo technique (0.35 Tesla). The ability to define segmental anatomy and intracardiac anomalies on transverse, sagittal, and coronal images was evaluated. MR images were graded as excellent, diagnostic, or nondiagnostic, and MR findings were corroborated by angiography and/or two-dimensional echocardiography. Studies that were considered to be excellent or diagnostic were obtained in 96% of the cases. Visceroatrial situs, the type of ventricular loop, and the relationship of the great vessels could be identified in all patients with studies encompassing the entire heart. Forty-four of 47 abnormalities at the level of the great vessels were identified with MR, including coarctation of the aorta and vascular rings. MR showed 32 of 35 ventricular abnormalities; 2 small ventricular septal defects and 1 Ebstein anomaly were not demonstrated. All of the abnormalities at the atrial level and those of systemic and pulmonary venous return were seen on MR images. Complex cardiac anomalies, such as single ventricles, and the status of the pulmonary arteries were clearly demonstrated, and a good assessment of total and palliative postoperative anatomy was provided.

Evaluation of Blalock-Taussig shunts in newborns: value of oblique MRI planes

“…Therefore the evaluation of shunting procedures usually requires invasive procedures like angiography. Recent articles have emphasized the role played by MRI in demonstrating cardiac anomalies [2,3]. Previously published extensive series have been restricted to adults and young children.…”

“…Jacobstein et al reported successful imaging in 11 of 17 angiographicaUy controlled shunts [1]. Didier et al mentioned that MR imaging accurately assessed 4 Blalock-Taussig shunts included in a series of 15 postoperative congenital heart patients [2]. More recently Katz et al included 18 systemic-pulmonary shunts in a series of mediastinal vessel postoperative evaluations (27 patients -age ranging from 11 months to 37 years) [4].…”

Criss-cross heart evaluated by colour Doppler echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging

“…Analysis with horizontal and frontal images of MRI defined the segmental anatomy, state of the ventricular and atrial septa and position of the great vessels [4,7]. These images were especially useful in the recognition of the spatial relationships of the cardiac segments.…”

Complex congenital cardiovascular anomalies evaluated by continuous-rotation computed tomography in children

“…In recent years, the effectiveness of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in diagnosing complex congenital cardiac anomalies has been reported [2,5,9] . Although for newborns and infants, in whom the target region is very small, MRI is not currently appropriate, since the slice is too thick, spatial resolution is poor, and examination time is too long, the new continuous-rotation CT has excellent diagnostic capabilities, even with newborns and infants .…”