Imaging Modalities in Congenital Heart Disease.

ABSTRACT

Cardiac imaging provides invaluable guidance at all stages of the management of congenital heart disease. Advances in the field of cardiac imaging have contributed immensely to improved outcomes of these patients. Echocardiography remains the first-line imaging modality. Non-invasive cross-sectional imaging using computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging supplements morphologic and physiologic evaluation and are being increasingly used for diagnosis and follow-up of patients with a malformed heart. Cardiac catheterization, being invasive, is mostly reserved for accurate assessment of hemodynamic status and percutaneous interventions. Simultaneous improvement in visualization techniques has amplified the information obtained from various imaging modalities. This review provides an overview of cardiac imaging and visualization techniques commonly used in the diagnosis and management of patients with congenital heart disease.