Fetal Cardiovascular MR Imaging

Samer Maher; Mike Seed

doi:10.1016/j.mric.2024.04.008

Fetal Cardiovascular MR Imaging

Magn Reson Imaging Clin N Am. 2024 Aug;32(3):479-487. doi: 10.1016/j.mric.2024.04.008.

Authors

Samer Maher¹, Mike Seed²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
² Cardiology, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, 170 Elizabeth Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 38944435
DOI: 10.1016/j.mric.2024.04.008

Abstract

Prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart disease allows for appropriate planning of delivery and an opportunity to inform families about the prognosis of the cardiac malformation. On occasion, prenatal therapies may be offered to improve perinatal outcomes. While ultrasound is the primary diagnostic method, advances have led to interest in fetal MRI for its potential to aid in clinical decision-making. This review explores technical innovations and the clinical utility of fetal cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR), highlighting its role in diagnosing and planning interventions for complex heart conditions. Future directions include the prediction of perinatal physiology and guidance of delivery planning.

Keywords: Congenital heart disease; Fetal cardiovascular imaging; Fetal hemodynamics; MR imaging; Prenatal diagnosis.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Female
Fetal Heart* / diagnostic imaging
Heart Defects, Congenital* / diagnostic imaging
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging* / methods
Pregnancy
Prenatal Diagnosis* / methods