Diagnosis of Congenital Obstructive Aortic Arch Anomalies in Chinese Children by Contrast-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Angiography

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of contrast-enhanced mag-netic resonance angiography for the diagnosis of congenital obstructive aortic arch anomalies in children and compare it with transthoracic echocardiography and other MR imaging techniques (ECG gated T1-weighted spin-echo imaging and gradient-echo cine imaging). Materials and meth-ods: Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography, ECG gated T1-weighted spin-echo imaging, and gradient-echo cine imaging were performed for the diagnosis of congenital ob-structive aortic arch anomalies in 416 patients from April 1999 to March 2005 (age range, 3 days to 12 years; mean age, 2.4 years) using a GE 1.5T MR scanner. Transthoracic echocardiography was performed in all patients prior to MR examination. Surgery and/or conventional X-ray angio-cardiography were done in all patients to determine the final diagnosis. Results: The population consisted of 416 patients. Congenital obstructive aortic arch anomalies were diagnosed in 213 patients and ruled out in 203 patients by operation and/or conventional X-ray angiocardiography. Among the 213 patients with anomalies, coarctation of aorta was diagnosed in 174, interruption of aortic arch was diagnosed in 35, and persistent fifth aortic arch with fourth aortic arch interrup