3-DIMENSIONAL RECONSTRUCTION OF MR-IMAGES IN CONGENITAL HEART-DISEASE

Commercially available software is now available for reconstructing th ree-dimensional (3D) images of hearts with congenital anomalies from s tandard two-dimensional (2D) tomographic slices. We have used these 3- D images for 8 years to enhance anatomic diagnosis and functional eval uation pre- and postoperatively in children with congenital cardiac an d great vessel diseases. The advantages of 3-D imaging are reduced exa mination time, improved display of complex intracardiac relationships, better understanding of relationships between great vessels and adjac ent major airways, and facilitated demonstration of cardiovascular ana tomy for those unfamiliar with tomographic images.