Christopher J. Franois1, Elizabeth K. Nett2, Benjamin R. Landgraf1, Kevin M. Johnson2, Shardha Srinivasan3, John Carter Ralphe3, Darren P. Lum1, Oliver Wieben2
1Radiology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA; 2Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA; 3Pediatric Cardiology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
This study demonstrates the feasibility of using phase contrast (PC) vastly undersampled isotropic projection reconstruction (VIPR) for the evaluation of patients with congenital heart disease. The scan is completed during free breathing and provides coverage of the whole chest with isotropic spatial resolution. The data are reconstructed as (1) magnitude images, (2) angiograms, and (3) cine velocity vector fields to quantify flow and other hemodynamic parameters, thereby providing comprehensive information from a single scan. Because PC VIPR does not require the use of contrast material, this sequence can be performed in patients in whom the administration of Gd-based contrast material is not considered safe.