Role of magnetic resonance angiography in the diagnosis of major aortopulmonary collateral arteries and partial anomalous pulmonary venous drainage.
BACKGROUND
Accurate diagnosis of major aortopulmonary collaterals (MAPCAs) and partial anomalous pulmonary venous drainage (PAPVD) in adult patients with congenital heart disease is important but problematic. Three-dimensional contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) provides a minimally invasive technique to allow detailed studies in a single breath-hold.


RESULTS
We assessed the role of contrast-enhanced 3D MRA in 29 consecutive adult patients with a diagnosis of MAPCAs (n=16) or PAPVD (n=13) made by echocardiogram, cardiac catheterization, or surgical inspection. MRA was performed with a 3D spoiled gradient-echo technique with intravenous gadolinium-DTPA (0.2 mmol/kg). In both types of pathology, there was excellent correlation between MRA and the cardiac catheterization, echocardiogram, or surgical inspection. Additional information was gained for patients with MAPCAs on confluence and size of pulmonary arteries (n=13 had central arteries), pulmonary artery stenosis (n=3), aneurysmal dilatation of pulmonary artery (n=1), and additional anomalous vascular abnormality (n=3). Shunt assessment, where present (9 of 16), showed patency in all cases (100%). For adults with PAPVD, further information was obtained on drainage origin (n=11). There were no complications.


CONCLUSIONS
Contrast-enhanced 3D MRA provides a fast, noninvasive, radiation-free method of accurate and comprehensive diagnosis of MAPCAs and PAPVD in adult patients.
Prasad
Sanjay K
SK
Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Unit, Royal Brompton Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
Soukias
Nikolaos
N
Hornung
Timothy
T
Khan
Mohammed
M
Pennell
Dudley J
DJ
Gatzoulis
Michael A
MA
Mohiaddin
Raad H
RH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001011:Aorta / Q000002:abnormalities; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D003097:Collateral Circulation; D005260:Female; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000002:abnormalities*; D011652:Pulmonary Circulation; D011667:Pulmonary Veins / Q000002:abnormalities*; D014463:Ultrasonography