QUANTIFICATION OF RIGHT-VENTRICULAR FUNCTION WITH MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING IN CHILDREN WITH NORMAL HEARTS AND WITH CONGENITAL HEART-DISEASE

In clinical treatment of children with congenital heart disease (CHD) assessment of right ventricular (RV) function is important. Available imaging techniques have been of limited value because of technical fac tors and the complex geometry of the right ventricle. To validate magn etic resonance (MR) imaging measurements of RV function in children, g radient echo MR imaging of both ventricles and MR flow mapping of grea t vessel and tricuspid flow was performed in 20 children with CHD affe cting the right ventricle and in 22 healthy children ranging in age fr om 5 to 16 years. Close correlation between RV versus LV stroke volume s (r = 0.96) and RV stroke volume versus great artery (r = 0.97) or tr icuspid flow (r = 0.97) was observed with small interobserver and intr aobserver variability. Results of healthy children were end-diastolic volume: 70 +/- 9 ml/m(2), end-systolic volume: 21 +/- 5 ml/m(2), and e jection fraction: 70% +/- 4%. In the patient groups clinically importa nt differences were noted. We conclude that MR imaging provides accura te noninvasive measurements of RV function in healthy children and pat ients with (operated) CHD.