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P22 Early experience of multi-sequence fetal cardiac magnetic resonance imaging within a clinical fetal cardiology service
  1. David F A Lloyd1,1,
  2. Joshua P van Amerom2,
  3. Kuberan Pushparajah1,2,
  4. John Simpson1,
  5. Vita Zidere1,
  6. Owen Miller1,
  7. Gurleen Sharland1,
  8. Joanna Allsop2,
  9. Matthew Fox2,
  10. Christina Malamateniou2,
  11. Jo Hajnal2,
  12. Mary Rutherford2,
  13. Reza Razavi1,2
  1. 1Evelina Children’s Hospital, London, SE1 7TH, UK
  2. 2Division of Imaging Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, King’s College London

Abstract

Background Fetal cardiac MRI offers the potential for a safe, radiation-free adjunct to echocardiography. In practice, its use has been limited by the technical challenges imposed by the small size of the fetal heart, the lack of external gating, and gross fetal and maternal movements. We present our initial experience of 20 fetal cases assessed by MRI, referred after routine fetal cardiology assessment to resolve specific points of diagnostic uncertainty.

Methods Referrals were based on the judgements of the attending fetal cardiologists between June 2014 and May 2015. Following a three-plane localiser, gross fetal movement was assessed with a balanced steady-state free precession (bSSFP) cine. Half-Fourier single-shot turbo spin echo (HASTE) and bSSFP gradient echo sequences were used for diagnostic imaging. The MRI diagnosis was subsequently compared with postnatal findings.

Results 20 fetal cardiac MRI scans were performed over the referral period, at an average gestational age of 32+4 weeks, (range 26+4–38+1 weeks). 3 scans were abandoned due to excessive fetal movement or inadequate visualisation. The most frequent referral indications were suspected coarctation of the aorta/abnormal arch anatomy (n = 9), cardiac masses or diverticulums (n = 5), and assessment of pulmonary vasculature (n = 4). HASTE sequences produced T2-weighted “black-blood” images, useful for assessing extracardiac vasculature (figure 1). Balanced SSFP sequences showed good contrast between the blood pool and surrounding tissue and were useful for intracardiac structures; however these were more susceptible to motion artefacts. Real-time SSFP sequences allowed for dynamic assessment of moving structures (e.g. masses/diverticulums-figure 2). Using a combination of sequences we were able to accurately characterise rhabdomyomas in 3 patients. In total, of the 17 scans with useful data, MRI was diagnostic in 15. Neonatal coarctation was incorrectly predicted in one case, and no postnatal data was available in another due to fetal demise.

Conclusions Certain fetal cardiovascular abnormalities may be difficult to diagnose with ultrasound alone, reflected in the referral pattern we observed for MRI. Our preliminary experience suggests that MRI can provide safe and useful complimentary imaging in this cohort within a tertiary fetal cardiac unit. As technical challenges continue to be addressed, prenatal MRI may develop a more prominent role in routine fetal cardiovascular assessment.

Abstract P22 Figure 1

Single-shot turbo spin-echo (HASTE) “black blood” image of the aorta in a 32 week fetus with coarctation of the aorta, confirmed postnatally. A characteristic indentation in the region of the aortic isthmus (a “posterior shelf”) is clearly visualised (*). AA = aortic arch.

Abstract P22 Figure 2

Still from a bSSFP cine (real-time) sequence in a 30 week fetus with a large RV diverticulum (arrowed). R = right ventricle, L = left ventricle.

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