Pediatric Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging has evolved to become a “one-stop shop” for cardiac imaging. Its ability to assess cardiac morphology, ventricular size and function, tissue characterization, blood flow quantification, extracardiac vasculature assessment, and myocardial perfusion and viability analysis in one examination makes it an indispensable tool in patients with congenital and acquired pediatric heart disease. While echocardiography remains the workhorse of diagnostic imaging in congenital heart disease, cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging is an excellent complementary imaging modality. Although there are many types of sequences utilized, the purpose of this chapter is to remove the mystique surrounding them. A comprehensive explanation of the physics is beyond the scope of this chapter. Our goal is to guide cardiologists in the use and understanding of this cross-sectional modality in the everyday care of their patients.