Assessment of Suspected Vascular Rings and Slings and/or Airway Pathologies Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging Rather Than Computed Tomography.

BACKGROUND: Congenital cardiovascular malformations (CCVM) may cause infrequently airway pathologies (AP) in children and are of prognostic and therapeutic relevance. While computed tomography (CT) is considered first-line imaging modality in many centres, we started using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) more and more in the last years to detect CCVM and AP to avoid radiation in this patient group. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this retrospective study was to determine and to compare the diagnostic accuracy of CT and MRI when used to detect CCVM and/or AP. METHODS: All patients suspected to have CCVM and/or AP and examined either by CT or MRI between 2000 and 2013 in our hospital were included. Extension and type of CCVM, as well as their relationship to esophagus, trachea or bronchi were assessed and related to findings of tracheobronchoscopy, cardiac catheterization or surgery if available. RESULTS: One hundred six patients (median [range] 4 years [2 days to 66 years]) were examined by CT (n = 27) or MRI (n = 79). In 78 patients (74%), CCVM and/or AP were found with either of the imaging methods. CCVM were found in 63 subjects. Forty-six of 63 subjects had both, CCVM and AP. The presence of CCVM was always detected correctly by CT or MRI, although both techniques had a weakness detecting atretic segments directly. AP (n = 61) were correctly diagnosed in all patients not intubated for artificial ventilation by CT (n = 17) and in all but 2 patients by MRI (39 out of 41). CONCLUSIONS: MRI is sensitive to detect CCVM associated with AP equally to CT without any radiation exposure.

Assessment of aortic morphology and compliance in children and adolescents with Ullrich-Turner syndrome (UTS) using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the morphology and elastic properties of the aorta in children and adolescents with Ullrich-Turner syndrome (UTS) treated with growth hormone, by using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS: Thirty-seven conscious UTS patients were examined using a 1.5-T whole-body MRI. Contrast-free three-dimensional (3D)-MR angiographies were performed, including 2D cine MRI, to calculate the aortic compliance (C) and cine of the aortic valve. RESULTS: Changes of aortic morphology were evident in 40% of the patients, whereas six had more than one alteration. A bicuspid aortic valve was identified in three patients that were missed by previous echocardiography. The aortic compliances in UTS patients were similar to those in healthy persons. CONCLUSION: This study shows that aortic morphology and compliance can be assessed by MRI without using contrast agents and without sedation in children and adolescents with UTS.

Assessment of in-stent stenosis in small children with congenital heart disease using multi-detector computed tomography: a validation study.

OBJECTIVES: Our purpose was to investigate the diagnostic reliability of multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) in assessing in-stent stenosis compared to digital angiography (DA) in small children. BACKGROUND: Little is known about the feasibility of using MDCT to assess stents placed to treat children with congenital heart disease (CHD). METHODS: Twenty-two children (median age [range], 2(3/4) [(1/2) to 12] years) with 42 transcatheter placed stents (median diameter: 7.2 [3.4-16.3] mm) in the pulmonary arteries (n = 36), aorta (2), PDA (1), and SVC (3) underwent both MDCT and DA due to suspected hemodynamic problems. RESULTS: Independent "blinded" observers were able to measure stent and minimal luminal diameters in 115 out of 124 (93%) stent segments on MDCT and DA. The interobserver variability was low (mean difference: 0.5, SD 0.8 mm) with high correlation (r = 0.97; P < .0001). The percent stenosis by MDCT correlated well with DA (r = 0.89, P < .0001; mean error 2.7, SD 10.4%). For all grades of stenosis, the sensitivity and specificity for MDCT were 58% and 97%, respectively. At a threshold of approximately > or =20% stenosis sensitivity became >98%. All stent associated complications [fracture (4), vascular narrowings (11)] were diagnosed by MDCT. As the stent diameter increased, there was significantly reduced variability between MDCT and DA for in-stent stenosis (P < .0001). CONCLUSION: In small children, MDCT is a feasible and promising method for assessing stent associated complications in the treatment of CHD. Cardiac surgeons and interventional cardiologists might rely on this imaging modality to plan specific interventions more precisely and to assess the results upon follow up.