Evaluation of magnetic resonance imaging in coarctation of the aorta: the importance of multiple imaging planes.

Coarctation of the aorta can be evaluated reliably and noninvasively by magnetic resonance imaging. However, the value of different imaging planes in the evaluation of restenosis or aneurysm has not previously been studied. Our purpose was to study the relative sensitivity for oblique coronal and oblique parasagittal magnetic resonance imaging to detect restenosis or aneurysm formation in children following surgical repair or balloon angioplasty of coarctation of the aorta. The study included magnetic resonance imaging studies in 27 children. Each exam included ECG gated, spin-echo imaging in oblique coronal and oblique parasagittal planes. Recoarctation was defined as a greater than 50% narrowing of the aorta. Aneurysms were defined as focal dilatation of the aorta in the region of coarctation 20% or greater than the adjacent aortic diameter. Recoarctation was detected in 11 children, but in both views in only five children. Aneurysms were detected in 15 children, but in both views in only three children. Recoarctation and aneurysm detection were both statistically more likely to be detected if oblique coronal and oblique parasagittal views were obtained, indicating that multiple imaging planes are necessary to completely evaluate magnetic resonance imaging of coarctation.