[Magnetic resonance imaging and lung perfusion scintigraphy in tetralogy of Fallot following surgery].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate pulmonary arteries in patients with tetralogy of Fallot following surgery with quantified lung perfusion scintigraphy and magnetic resonance imaging.


METHODS
From January 1985 to December 1999, 47 patients who underwent surgery between 1985 and 1999 were studied. To obtain values of normality, 45 infants with no pulmonary artery disease were assessed with lung perfusion scintigraphy (right lung flow: 54-61%, left lung flow: 38.7-46%) and magnetic resonance imaging axial view (right/left pulmonary artery branch diameter ratio: 1-1.1). Patients with stenosis underwent catheterization.


RESULTS
Group 1: 27 patients with normal parameters. Group 2: nine patients with left pulmonary branch stenosis and irregularities in all parameters; left/right branch diameter ratio 0.51 and left lung perfusion 26.3 +/- 7.9%, r correlation ratio 65%, p < 0.005, left branch pressure gradient 34.4 +/- 17.9 mm Hg, rate-gradient r 89%, p < 0.001. Group 3: five patients with right pulmonary branch stenosis and irregularities in all parameters; right/left branch diameter ratio 0.52, reduced right lung perfusion 32 +/- 11%, with a stenotic branch gradient of 40 +/- 19 mm Hg., rate/gradient ratio r 72%, p < 0.005; gradient/perfusion ratio r 82%, p < 0.003. Group 4: Six patients with bilateral stenosis, reduced diameter in the stenotic area with normal perfusion in both lungs and bilateral gradient. Eighteen patients with stenosis underwent re-operation, with favorable outcome in 14.


CONCLUSIONS
Magnetic resonance imaging and quantified lung perfusion scintigraphy provide useful information in the follow-up of tetralogy of Fallot.
Rodrigo Carbonero
D
D
Cardiología Pediátrica, Hospital de Cruces, Baracaldo, Bilbao, Spain.
Cabrera Duro
A
A
Martínez Corrales
P
P
Ríos Altolaguirre
G
G
Alcibar Villa
J
J
Aramendi Gallardo
J
J
Barrera Portillo
M C
MC
Pastor Menchaca
E
E
Cabrera Zubizarreta
A
A
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D010477:Perfusion; D011651:Pulmonary Artery; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D013771:Tetralogy of Fallot / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery