Cyanotic Congenital Heart Disease: Essential Primer for the Practicing Radiologist

Abstract

The cyanotic congenital heart diseases are a rare and heterogeneous group of disorders, often requiring urgent neonatal management. Although echocardiography is the mainstay for imaging, continued technological advances have expanded the role for computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, helping to limit invasive cardiac catheterization. In this article, the authors review the broad spectrum of cyanotic congenital heart disease, focusing on the utility of advanced noninvasive imaging modalities while highlighting key clinical features and management considerations.

Keywords: Computed tomography angiography; Congenital heart disease; Cyanosis; Magnetic resonance imaging; Tetralogy of Fallot; Transposition of the great arteries; Tricuspid atresia; Truncus arteriosus.