Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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This investigation in young children requires either heavy sedation or anaesthesia as the scan takes about 20 minutes and movement prevents the acquisition of data. It is most useful in imaging the aortic arch anatomy and pulmonary arteries. The anatomical information is superb and it is the investigation of choice in suspected vascular rings. It is also able to give information about velocity and flow. Ejection and regurgitant fractions can also be assessed. |
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The MRI in children is not very good at delineating the intracardiac anatomy |
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The proximal pulmonary arteries are delineated well by MRI. With contrast the more distil branches can also be seen. |
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By filtering the signal received it is possible to gain information about blood flow and the equivalent of an “angiogram” can be obtained non-invasively. |
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F1 is the AAo and F2 the DAo at the level of a coarctation.
Note the disparity in vessel size. Velocity calculations show the AAo
peaks at 95 cm/s compared to 289 cm/s at the coarctation site. |
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This page was last edited 16/2/2004 |
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