Post-interventional three-dimensional dark blood MRI in the adult with congenital heart disease

Background: Investigate a novel three-dimensional (3D) turbo spin echo (TSE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequence to assess stented segments in adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) after transcatheter intervention.

Methods: Adults with CHD referred for computed tomography (CT) after transcatheter intervention underwent MR exam with a 3D respiratory gated TSE sequence. Data obtained at the time of the study included type of CHD, radiation dose, length of time between exams, and luminal diameters of stented segments from each exam. Continuous variables were analyzed using Student'st and Bland-Altman plots performed to analyze measurements obtained from both examinations.

Results: Eleven patients underwent both examinations. Type of defects included coarctation of the aorta (n=6) and tetralogy of Fallot. Average radiation dose was 19.6 mSv and average time between CT and MRI was 99 ± 160 days. Luminal diameters of stented vessels correlated closely between TSE MRI and CT (r(2)=.85) with a bias toward overestimation with MRI (mean 22.4 ± 4.3mm and 20.9 ± 3.7 mm, p<.01).

Conclusion: This novel 3D respiratory gated TSE MR technique provides a feasible method to reduce metallic artifact and improve visualization of stented segments and surrounding anatomic structures without exposure to radiation.