Diagnostic Values of MRI in Congenital Heart Disease

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most prevalent congenital anomaly and a major cause of infant morbidity and mortality. It encompasses various cardiac chamber anomalies such as septal defects, valvular lesions, and outflow tract anomalies. Advances in diagnostic tools, medical management, and surgical techniques have significantly improved survival rates, with over 90% of children with complex CHD living into adulthood. As of 2012, the prevalence of CHD was estimated at 3000 per million, and in the U.S., the number of adults with complex CHD increased from 110,000 in 1968 to 270,000 in 2010.

Historically, CHD diagnosis relied on clinical information from auscultation and heart sounds, with X-rays providing indirect information. Since the 1970s, echocardiography has become the primary diagnostic tool due to its direct, safe, and portable nature, capable of defining anatomy and estimating hemodynamics. However, echocardiography has limitations, including a restricted window of visualization.

Previously, CT and MRI faced challenges due to cardiac motion artifacts, but advancements in rapid imaging and high-resolution technology have improved their diagnostic capabilities. While CT provides valuable anatomical details, it lacks hemodynamic information and involves ionizing radiation. MRI, on the other hand, excels in both anatomical and functional analysis, offering detailed hemodynamic evaluations of blood flow through valves, great vessels, and septal defects.