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Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

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Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

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The cardiovascular MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) program at Children's Hospital Boston is among the largest, most advanced programs in the country. It was established in 1995, and includes three areas:

clinical care
research
education

The clinical program performs and interprets cardiovascular MRI examinations in patients of all ages, with a wide variety of heart disease. Over the past several years, the number of cardiac MRI examinations at Children's has greatly increased as the diagnostic capabilities of MRI have expanded.

What is Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)?

MRI is a noninvasive way to take pictures of the body using a large magnet, radio waves and a computer. The MRI machine takes pictures without touching the body and does not use X-rays or any radioactive radiation.

Why is it necessary?

MRI is done to evaluate the structure and function of the heart and blood vessels. Patients have MRI examinations done to find out more about the structure and function of the heart and blood vessels. MRI may provide your cardiologist with information that cannot be obtained by other tests.

A cardiovascular MRI (CMR) may be ordered:

If echocardiography and other imaging tests cannot provide adequate diagnostic information.
To avoid invasive cardiac catheterization and its associated risks, including the use of radiation.
For the unique capabilities of MRI.

Some clinical circumstances where Cardiac MRI can be helpful:

Congenital aneurysm of the aortic isthmus see animation

Evaluation of cardiovascular anatomy and function in patients with poor echocardiographic windows (such as patients who have undergone cardiothoracic surgery, as well as adolescents and adults with congenital heart disease)

S/p Senning operation for TGA see animation

Evaluation of the heart and blood vessels after cardiac surgery.

Ventricular function after TOF repair see animation

Evaluation of left and right ventricular function including quantification of ventricular volume, mass and ejection fraction.

Scimitar syndrome

Anomalies of the systemic and pulmonary veins

Anomalous origin of the right coronary from the left sinus of Valsalva

Imaging of the coronary arteries

Pericardial hamartoma

Assessment of cardiac tumors

Constrictive pericarditis

Evaluation of myocardial and pericardial diseases (such as arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia and constrictive pericarditis)

Dobutamine stress cardiac MRI see animation

Dobutamine Stress Imaging in patients with suspected myocardial ischemia, such as Kawasaki disease

Myocardial infarction following Kawasaki disease

Assessment of myocardial viability using post-gadolinium delayed myocardial enhancement technique

Myocardial iron T2* map enlarge image

Evaluation of myocardial iron load by the T2* technique in patients with thalassemia, sickle cell and other conditions associated with iron overload

Double Aortic Arch

Diseases of the aorta (including coarctation, aortic arch anomalies and vascular rings)

23.5 MB, 0:16 min QuickTime Player

Atrial Septal Defect

Quantitative evaluation of shunts, (such as Qp:Qs) and vessel-specific blood flow

2.96 MB, 0:01 min QuickTime Player


					Children's Hospital Boston is the primary pediatric teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School

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