Image reconstruction impacts haemodynamic parameters derived from 4D flow magnetic resonance imaging with compressed sensing.

Aims: 4D blood flow measurements by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) can be used to simplify blood flow assessment. Compressed sensing (CS) can provide better flow measurements than conventional parallel imaging (PI), but clinical validation is needed. This study aimed to validate stroke volume (SV) measurements by 4D-CS in healthy volunteers and patients while also investigating the influence of the CS image reconstruction parameter on haemodynamic parameters.

Minimal-invasive, image guided, 360-degree resection of ilio-lumbo-sacral ostechondroma, planned on the 3D model in a child with hereditary multiple ostechondroma (HMO).

Background: Hereditary Multiple Osteochondromas (HMO), previously known as Multiple Hereditary Exostoses (MHE), is a genetic disorder characterized by the formation of multiple, benign, exostoses (osteochondromas) growing from the metaphyseal region of long bones as well as from the axial skeleton. Lesions originating from the lumbar spine region are rare, and are most common growing from the posterior element of the vertebrae. HMO associated osteochondromas are difficult to treat due to continuous and incontrollable growth of these lesions and a lifetime risk for malignant transformation.

Atrial septal defect closure in children at young age is beneficial for left ventricular function.

Aims: Atrial septal defects (ASDs) lead to volume-loaded right ventricles (RVs). ASD closure does not always alleviate symptoms or improve exercise capacity, which is possibly explained by impaired left ventricular (LV) haemodynamics. This study evaluated the effect of ASD closure in children using non-invasive LV pressure-volume (PV) loops derived from cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging and brachial blood pressure, compared with controls.

Left Ventricular Diastolic Function in Children with Atrial Septal Defects Improves After Closure by Means of Increased Hydraulic Force.

Hydraulic force aids diastolic filling of the left ventricle (LV) by facilitating basal movement of the atrioventricular plane. The short-axis atrioventricular area difference (AVAD) determines direction and magnitude of this force. Patients with atrial septal defect (ASD) have reduced LV filling due to the left-to-right shunt across the atrial septum and thus potentially altered hydraulic force.

Atrioventricular Area Difference Aids Diastolic Filling in Patients with Repaired Tetralogy of Fallot.

A hydraulic force aids diastolic filling of the left ventricle (LV) and is proportional to the difference in short-axis area between the left ventricle and atrium; the atrioventricular area difference (AVAD). Patients with repaired Tetralogy of Fallot (rToF) and pulmonary regurgitation (PR) have reduced LV filling which could lead to a negative AVAD and a hydraulic force impeding diastolic filling. The aim was to assess AVAD and to determine whether the hydraulic force aids or impedes diastolic filling in patients with rToF and PR, compared to controls.

Diastolic Filling in Patients After Heart Transplantation Is Impaired Due to an Altered Geometrical Relationship Between the Left Atrium and Ventricle.

Background: The geometrical relationship between atrial and ventricular short-axis cross-sectional area determines the hydraulic forces acting on intracardiac blood. This is important for diastolic filling. In patients undergoing heart transplantation (HTx), the left atrium is often enlarged as a result of the standard surgical technique.

Photon-counting computed tomography for paediatric congenital heart defects yields images of high diagnostic quality with low radiation doses at both 70 kV and 90 kV.

Background: Photon-counting computed tomography (PCCT) is a new clinical method that may show better diagnostic quality at lower radiation doses than conventional CT.

Objective: To investigate the diagnostic quality and radiation dose of paediatric cardiovascular PCCT for diagnosis of congenital heart defects at 70 kV and 90 kV.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective assessment included clinical non-gated paediatric PCCT examinations for assessment of congenital heart defects.

Fetal cardiac magnetic resonance imaging of the descending aorta in suspected left-sided cardiac obstructions.

Background: Severe left-sided cardiac obstructions are associated with high morbidity and mortality if not detected in time. The correct prenatal diagnosis of coarctation of the aorta (CoA) is difficult. Fetal cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) may improve the prenatal diagnosis of complex congenital heart defects.

In vivo hepatic flow distribution by computational fluid dynamics can predict pulmonary flow distribution in patients with Fontan circulation.

In Fontan patients, a lung deprived of hepatic blood may develop pulmonary arterio-venous malformations (PAVMs) resulting in shunting, reduced pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) and decreased oxygenation. To provide guidance for corrective invasive interventions, we aimed to non-invasively determine how the hepatic to pulmonary blood flow balance correlates with pulmonary flow, PVR, and with oxygen saturation. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data from eighteen Fontan patients (eight females, age 3-14 years) was used to construct patient-specific computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models to calculate the hepatic to pulmonary blood flow.

Quantitative myocardial perfusion should be interpreted in the light of sex and comorbidities in patients with suspected chronic coronary syndrome: A cardiac positron emission tomography study.

Diagnosis and treatment of patients with suspected chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) currently relies on the degree of coronary artery stenosis and its significance for myocardial perfusion. However, myocardial perfusion can be affected by factors other than coronary stenosis. The aim of this study was to investigate to what extent sex, age, diabetes, hypertension and smoking affect quantitative myocardial perfusion, beyond the degree of coronary artery stenosis, in patients with suspected or established CCS.

Early-Onset Fetal Growth Restriction Increases Left Ventricular Sphericity in Adolescents Born Very Preterm.

Left ventricular shape alterations predict cardiovascular outcomes and have been observed in children born preterm and after fetal growth restriction (FGR). The aim was to investigate whether left ventricular shape is altered in adolescents born very preterm and if FGR has an additive effect. Adolescents born very preterm due to verified early-onset FGR and two control groups with birthweight appropriate for gestational age (AGA), born at similar gestational age and at term, respectively, underwent cardiac MRI.

Factors affecting performance of fetal blood T measurements for noninvasive estimation of oxygen saturation.

Purpose: To ultimately make accurate and precise fetal noninvasive oxygen saturation (sO ) measurements by T -prepared bSSFP more widely available by systematically assessing error sources in order to potentially reduce perinatal mortality in cardiovascular malformations and fetal growth restriction.

Methods: T -prepared bSSFP data were acquired in phantoms; in flowing blood in adults in the superior sagittal sinus, ascending and descending aorta, and main pulmonary artery; and in the fetal descending aorta and umbilical vein. T was assessed in relation to T two- or three-parameter curve-fitting techniques, SSFP readout, refocusing time delay (τ), constant and pulsatile blood flow, and impact of T recovery.

Fetal growth restriction followed by very preterm birth is associated with smaller kidneys but preserved kidney function in adolescence.

Background: Preterm birth and fetal growth restriction (FGR) are associated with structural and functional kidney changes, increasing long-term risk for chronic kidney disease and hypertension. However, recent studies in preterm children are conflicting, indicating structural changes but normal kidney function. This study therefore assessed kidney structure and function in a cohort of adolescents born very preterm with and without verified FGR.

Higher blood pressure in adolescent boys after very preterm birth and fetal growth restriction.

Background: Although preterm birth predisposes for cardiovascular disease, recent studies in children indicate normal blood pressure and arterial stiffness. This prospective cohort study therefore assessed blood pressure and arterial stiffness in adolescents born very preterm due to verified fetal growth restriction (FGR).

Methods: Adolescents (14 (13-17) years; 52% girls) born very preterm with FGR (preterm FGR; n = 24) and two control groups born with appropriate birth weight (AGA), one in similar gestation (preterm AGA; n = 27) and one at term (term AGA; n = 28) were included.

Automatic Segmentation of the Fetus in 3D Magnetic Resonance Images Using Deep Learning: Accurate and Fast Fetal Volume Quantification for Clinical Use.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides images for estimating fetal volume and weight, but manual delineations are time consuming. The aims were to (1) validate an algorithm to automatically quantify fetal volume by MRI; (2) compare fetal weight by Hadlock's formulas to that of MRI; and (3) quantify fetal blood flow and index flow to fetal weight by MRI. Forty-two fetuses at 36 (29-39) weeks gestation underwent MRI.

Fetal 3D cardiovascular cine image acquisition using radial sampling and compressed sensing.

Purpose: To explore a fetal 3D cardiovascular cine acquisition using a radial image acquisition and compressed-sensing reconstruction and compare image quality and scan time with conventional multislice 2D imaging.

Methods: Volumetric fetal cardiac data were acquired in 26 volunteers using a radial 3D balanced SSFP pulse sequence. Cardiac gating was performed using a Doppler ultrasound device.

Right ventricular longitudinal function is linked to left ventricular filling pressure in patients with repaired tetralogy of fallot.

Experimental data on pulmonary regurgitation has linked right ventricular longitudinal function to left ventricular filling pressure in animals with induced and treated pulmonary regurgitation but this relationship has not been investigated in patients with repaired Tetralogy of Fallot (rToF). The aim of this study was to determine if right ventricular longitudinal function assessed using cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) is associated with left ventricular filling pressure in patients with rToF. A second objective of this study was to determine if direction of septal movement is related to right ventricular pressure load in rToF.

Comparison of 2D and 4D Flow MRI in Neonates Without General Anesthesia.

Background: Neonates with critical congenital heart disease require early intervention. Four-dimensional (4D) flow may facilitate surgical planning and improve outcome, but accuracy and precision in neonates are unknown.

Purpose: To 1) validate two-dimensional (2D) and 4D flow MRI in a phantom and investigate the effect of spatial and temporal resolution; 2) investigate accuracy and precision of 4D flow and internal consistency of 2D and 4D flow in neonates; and 3) compare scan time of 4D flow to multiple 2D flows.

Pulse Wave Velocity Measurements by Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Neonates and Adolescents: Methodological Aspects and Their Clinical Implications.

Pulse wave velocity (PWV) by cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) lacks standardization. The aim of this study was to investigate methodological aspects of PWV measurements by CMR in neonates and adolescents. A computer phantom was created to validate the temporal resolution required for accurate PWV.