A comparison of magnetic resonance angiography with conventional angiography in the diagnosis of tetralogy of Fallot.
OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to assess the value of magnetic resonance angiography as a non-invasive alternative to catheterization in the evaluation of patients with tetralogy of Fallot, including those with pulmonary atresia.


RESULTS
We evaluated prospectively, using magnetic resonance angiography, 30 patients, aged from 1 to 18 years, 15 with tetralogy of Fallot and pulmonary stenosis, and 15 with pulmonary atresia. The studies obtained using magnetic resonance provided adequate visualization of the aorta, and provided excellent imaging of the pulmonary trunk and its right and left branches. Compared with catheterization, magnetic resonance had 100 percent sensitivity, specificity and accuracy for defining the presence or absence of the pulmonary arteries. Magnetic resonance also had 93.9 percent sensitivity, 98.2 percent specificity, and 96.7 percent accuracy for detection of stenosis or hypoplasia of the pulmonary arteries. We detected 25 major aortopulmonary collateral arteries with magnetic resonance, but only 22 with conventional angiography. There was complete agreement between the two methods in detecting patency of the arterial duct in 6 patients, and of Blalock-Taussig shunts in 12 patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Magnetic resonance angiography is a useful tool in the evaluation of patients with tetralogy of Fallot. It can be considered a non-invasive alternative to cardiac catheterization in the evaluation of the pulmonary vascular anatomy.
Bernardes
Renata Junqueira Moll
RJ
Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Laranjeiras National Institute of Cardiology, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. paulombbernardes@terra.com.br
Marchiori
Edson
E
Bernardes
Paulo Manuel de Barros
PM
Monzo Gonzaga
Maria Beatriz Albano
MB
Simões
Luiz Carlos
LC
D000293:Adolescent; D000792:Angiography; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013771:Tetralogy of Fallot / Q000175:diagnosis*