Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in children with congenital heart disease.

Electrocardiogram-gated magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to evaluate 36 children, ages 2 to 17 years, with congenital heart disease. With the use of multiple imaging planes, including transverse, sagittal, coronal, and 60-degree left anterior oblique views, high contrast images with excellent spatial resolution were produced. In 34 of the 36 patients the anatomic detail provided by MRI was sufficient to make the cardiac diagnosis. Electrocardiogram-gated MRI is an important new imaging technique for use in children with cardiovascular disease.