Developmental disorders

III./3.2.: Imaging modalities in DORV

Thanks to the development of diagnostic methods many congenital heart defects can be detected already in utero. Due to the spread of fetal ultrasound, more and more heart defects become known even in the early period of pregnancy. Obviously, intrauterine intervention is also feasible, but it is not suitable for the correction of complex heart defects. Certain parents do not retain their embryo with complex heart defect, thus incidence of certain congenital heart defects is decreasing.

Affairs are favorable for the ultrasound investigation in neonatal age and infancy, thus imaging of most congenital heart defects is basically unbound by echocardiography (ECHO). In case of suspect of abnormalities affecting the airways and lung and in case of immaturity of the pulmonary arterial system, chest computed tomography angiography (CTA) can be also used to demonstrate the major aortopulmonary collaterals (MAPCA) in selected cases. By the growth of the child the ECHO-window decays continously.

MR can be also used above the age of 7-8 as an accessory diagnostic modality. Nowadays this modality allows the non-invasive imaging of the great vessels of the chest (even without contrast administration). Right ventricular function and flow data of several important vessels can be measured accurately. Regurgitation is measured by MR accurately, however, thee extent of stenoses should be determinated by ultrasonography. Study protocol differs depending on which reconstructional surgical method was applied in the given patient.