Three-dimensional dual-phase whole-heart MR imaging: Clinical implications for congenital heart disease

Tarique Hussain, Dirk Lossnitzer, Hannah Bellsham-Revell, Israel Valverde, Philipp Beerbaum, Reza Razavi, Aaron J. Bell, Tobias Schaeffter, Rene M. Botnar, Sergio A. Uribe, Gerald F. Greil

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

34 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: To identify which rest phase (systolic or diastolic) is optimum for assessing or measuring cardiac structures in the setting of three-dimensional (3D) whole-heart imaging in congenital heart disease (CHD). Materials and Methods: The study was approved by the institutional review board; informed consent was obtained. Fifty children (26 male and 24 female patients) underwent 3D dual-phase wholeheart imaging. Cardiac structures were analyzed for contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) and image quality. Cross-sectional measurements were taken of the aortic arch, right ventricular (RV) outflow tract (RVOT) and pulmonary arteries. Normally distributed variables were compared by using paired t tests, and categorical data were compared by using Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results: Mean CNR and image quality were significantly (all P < .05) greater in systole for the right atrium (CNR, 8.9 vs 7.5; image quality, 438 vs 91), left atrium (CNR, 8.0 vs 5.3; image quality, 1006 vs 29), RV (CNR, 10.6 vs 8.2; image quality, 131 vs 23), LV (CNR, 9.4 vs 7.7; image quality, 125 vs 28), and pulmonary veins (CNR, 6.2 vs 4.9; image quality, 914 vs 32). Conversely, diastolic CNR was significantly higher in the aorta (9.2 vs 8.2; P = .013) and diastolic image quality was higher for the left pulmonary artery (238 vs 62; P = .007), right pulmonary artery (219 vs 35; P < .001), and for imaging of an area after an arterial stenosis (164 vs 7; P < .001). All aortic arch and RVOT cross-sectional measurements were significantly (P < .05) greater in systole (narrowest point of arch, 70 vs 53 mm 2; descending aorta, 71 vs 58 mm 2; transverse arch, 293 vs 275 mm 2; valvar RVOT, 291 vs 268 mm 2; supravalvar RVOT, 337 vs 280 mm 2; prebifurcation RVOT, 329 vs 259 mm 2). Conclusion: Certain structures in CHD are better imaged in systole and others in diastole, and therefore, the dual-phase approach allows a higher overall success rate. This approach also allows depiction of diameter changes between systole and diastole and is therefore preferable to standard single-phase sequences for the planning of interventional procedures.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)547-554
Number of pages8
JournalRADIOLOGY
Volume263
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 2012

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging

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