Myocardial scars determined by delayed-enhancement magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography are not common in right ventricles with systemic function in long-term follow up.
OBJECTIVE
To test the hypothesis that myocardial scars are common in patients with systemic right ventricles.


METHODS
27 consecutive patients with systemic right ventricle were studied with delayed-enhancement magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography. Of the 27 patients, 18 had had an atrial switch operation a mean of 21.8 (SD 4.5) years previously and were 23.4 (SD 5.3) years old. Nine patients without previous heart surgery had congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries and were 35.3 (SD 15.6) years old.


RESULTS
Only one patient had a subendocardial scar identified by delayed-enhancement magnetic resonance imaging. Positron emission tomography identified no myocardial scars.


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows that the hypothesis that myocardial scars are common in patients with systemic right ventricles is not correct.
Fratz
S
S
Department of Pediatric Cardiology and Congenital Heart Disease, Deutsches Herzzentrum München, Klinik an der Technischen Universität München, Munich, Germany. fratz@dhm.mhn.de
Hauser
M
M
Bengel
F M
FM
Hager
A
A
Kaemmerer
H
H
Schwaiger
M
M
Hess
J
J
Stern
H C
HC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006352:Heart Ventricles; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014188:Transposition of Great Vessels / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D018497:Ventricular Dysfunction, Right / Q000175:diagnosis*