Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

The complex morphology and physiology of the right ventricle make it difficult to develop criteria for judging its function. Standardized reference values for right ventricular function and knowledge of their distribution in different age groups are not available. However, these are important for the objective
evaluation of the effects of medication and interventional or surgical treatment.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), being non-invasive, is well-suited for regular follow-up examinations as the method does not subject the patient to x-ray exposure. In addition to enabling anatomic imaging of the heart, MRI makes it possible to collect quantitative data on the ventricular function, shunt volumes, valvular stenosis and insufficiency that otherwise can only be obtained by invasive cardiac catheterization. Moreover, MRI is able to yield additional unique and sophisticated functional parameters of the right ventricle such as ventricular subcompartment analysis and deformation characteristics under different loading conditions.

The aim of the first phase of the study is to develop a methodological standard for the routine assessment of the ventricular function by MRI. In a second phase patients will be involved in a number of well-defined prospective, longitudinal observational multicentre studies (main projects of the Competence Network Congenital Heart Disease) using the standard method established. The patients' MRI data will be transmitted by web-upload techniques to the central database and there undergo systematic evaluation including central consensus reading by highly trained observers using current methods for advanced telemedical communication. The database is available to all members of the network and can be used to validate the success of treatment.

Under the Competence Network for Congenital Heart Defects supervision, a number of clinics with considerable cardiac MRI experience have come together and founded the MRI Core Lab. The MRI Core Lab analyses imaging files from clinical studies on the basis of secured high-quality standards. A central analysis laboratory counts on high-capacity tele-radiologic structures for internet based transmission of imaging data. These files are then promptly included in large multi-centre studies conducted by the Competence Network for Congenital Heart Defects. The Core Lab team analyses the imaging data and stores them in an imaging data base. About 20 international clinics and centres are currently involved, sending data from scientific studies to be analysed by the MRI Core Lab.

Here you find a selection of our scientific publications on the subject of MR imaging. For further publications please click here.

Project documents