Cardiac imaging in adults with congenital heart disease: unknowns and issues related to diagnosis

Abstract

Many adults with simple and complex congenital heart disease (CHD) survive to adulthood. The goal of imaging is to diagnose the underlying anomalies and to detect late complications of their CHD and past surgical repair, in order to assess the need for further intervention and better prepare for endovascular or open-heart surgery. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computerized tomography (CT) are increasingly utilized in this patient population, due to the technical advances made to these modalities in the past decade regarding image acquisition and reconstruction, spatial and temporal resolution, and radiation dose reduction. Here, we aim to review the role of cardiac MR in initial diagnosis, pre-treatment planning and post-surgical follow-up of adults with CHD, and to discuss the ancillary role of cardiac CT in these patients.