The role of magnetic resonance imaging in fetal congenital heart disease

Abstract

Fetal echocardiography is the preferred imaging method for prenatal diagnosis of congenital cardiovascular anomalies. With the development of rapid magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and electrocardiographic gating techniques, fetal cardiac MRI has become an adjunct to ultrasound, which can not only detect congenital cardiovascular anomalies, but also quantify fetal cardiovascular structures, cardiac function, and hemodynamics. This article summarizes fetal cardiac MRI sequences, describes normal imaging features, and presents a systematic approach to looking for MRI appearances of various congenital heart diseases in fetuses based on our experience.

Keywords: Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging; Congenital heart disease; Fetus; Prenatal diagnosis.