Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in atrioventricular discordance and congenitally corrected transposition (CCTGA)

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Medical Imaging
• Congenital Heart Disease

Background:

• Congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (CCTGA) presents complex anatomical variations.
• Management decisions involve choosing between the right ventricle as the systemic ventricle or complex surgical re-routing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the utility of cardiac MRI in assessing CCTGA patients.
• To detail the comprehensive assessment of CCTGA anatomy and function using MRI.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a tertiary cardiac surgery center's protocol for cardiac MRI.
• Described MRI techniques for evaluating native and post-operative CCTGA anatomy and function.
• Included assessment of venous baffle pathways, outflow tracts, and residual lesions.

Main Results:

• Cardiac MRI provides accurate, non-invasive anatomical and functional data for CCTGA.
• MRI overcomes echocardiography limitations, offering clear visualization across all patient ages.
• Tissue characterization and lifelong surveillance of the systemic right ventricle are facilitated by MRI.

Conclusions:

• Cardiac MRI is essential for precise pre-operative assessment and surgical planning in CCTGA.
• MRI enables comprehensive lifelong monitoring of CCTGA patients, including the systemic right ventricle.
• This modality is crucial for managing the diverse anatomical challenges in CCTGA.