MRI diagnosis of a previously undiagnosed large trabecular ventricular septal defect in an adult after multiple catheterizations and angiocardiograms

Ventricular septal defect (VSD) is the most frequent congenital heart disea se (25-30%). The diagnosis of VSD is usually made echocardiographically by means of colour Doppler ultrasound, and is confirmed by angiocardiography i n most cases. We describe a case in which an additional large trabecular VS D was demonstrated by MRI after previous cardiac catheterizations and angio cardiography in various hospitals. MRI allows an exact presentation of the anatomy, including areas that are difficult to assess, for instance the api cal septum. Determination of cardiac output, regurgitation volume and the Q p/Qs quotient in patients with shunt volume in heart defects is also possib le with one examination.