The Role of Cardiac MRI in the Functional Assessment of Pediatric Cases with Dilated Cardiomyopathy, SARA M. KAMEL, RANIA Z. HASSAN and HASSAN A.H. ELKIKI
Abstract
Objective: Evaluation of the role of cardiac MRI in the functional assessment of pediatric patients suspected or known to have dilated cardiomyopathy.
Patients and Methods: 30 patients of the pediatric age group were included in this study with the age range (30 days-18 years). Full clinical history and echocardiographic data were collected. Standard cardiac MRI views were taken with delayed post contrast enhanced study to detect fibrosis and exclude ischemic cause or myocarditis.
Results: The most common type of cardiomyopathy in the pediatric age group is the dilated cardiomyopathy. In cases suspected to have ALCAPA (anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from pulmonary artery) versus dilated cardi-omyopathy, the cardiac MRI was able to detect the origin of the coronary arteries from the aorta, thus excluding ALCAPA. Cardiac MRI is an important diagnostic tool for exclusion of secondary causes of dilated cardiomyopathy in the pediatric age group.
Conclusion: Although echocardiography remains the first-line imaging investigation for pediatric patients, yet the cardiac MRI has become an important noninvasive imaging modality for imaging of dilated cardiomyopathy in the pediatric age group. It is excellent imaging technique for assessing the morphologic and functional characteristics of dilated cardi-omyopathy.