MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING OF THE CARDIOVASCULAR-SYSTEM AND AIRWAY

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the cardiovascular system has overc ome artifacts generated by complex cardiac contraction and respiratory motion to become an increasingly important and versatile diagnostic t ool in children with congenital heart disease. Newer software and elec tronics have enabled acquisition of high-quality diagnostic images in pediatric patients with a variety of cardiovascular and respiratory ab normalities. Although the noninvasive imaging of patients with congeni tal heart defects has relied predominantly on echocardiography, MR ima ging has a complementary and unique role in eases in which the examina tion is Limited because of difficulty in achieving an adequate acousti c window. The precise role of MR imaging in this patient population co ntinues to be defined, particularly in the context of the increasing u se and refinement of transesophageal echocardiography. This article hi ghlights the most widely used MR techniques and the most common clinic al indications for imaging.