Neonatal Congenital Heart Disease: Initial Results with High Resolution Contrast Enhanced MR Angiography at 3.0 Tesla

John Michael Moriarty¹, Kambiz Nael¹, Gary Satou², Pierangello Renella², Pablo Abbona¹, John Paul Finn¹

The purpose of our study was to explore the potential of high resolution CEMRA at 3.0T in neonates with complex congenital heart disease and suspected congenital vascular anomalies. With appropriate use of physiological motion compensation, parallel imaging and coil configuration, voxel volumes less than 0.5 mm3 are routinely achievable. This allows definitive evaluation of pulmonary arterial and venous anomalies, preventing recourse to CT or catheter angiography. Furthermore simultaneous whole-body vascular evaluation is feasible, with high resolution images of multiple vascular beds from scalp to groin, even in very low weight, tiny infants.