Comparing 3D Cardiovascular MR Angiography with 3D bSSFP Whole Heart Imaging in Congenital Heart Diseases: A REACT Study

Motivation: 3-Dimensional Whole Heart balanced Steady-State-Free-Precession (3D bSSFP) MR imaging is reliable for congenital heart disease (CHD) assessment, but field inhomogeneity-induced banding artifacts limit its utility. Goal(s): This study assesses a 3D Whole Heart approach utilizing a modified REACT technology to enhance image quality for cardiac cardiovascular anatomy compared to conventional 3D bSSFP imaging. Approach: Eleven patients were compared for image quality, vessel diameters and contrast-to-noise ratios. Results: Modified REACT improves cardiovascular imaging in CHD particularly of the pulmonary veins and the aorta compared to traditional 3D bSSFP imaging Impact: Visualizing cardiovascular structures like pulmonary veins in CHD patients can be challenging due to off-resonance effects. A modified REACT sequence with triggering overcomes these imaging difficulties providing improved image quality compared to 3D bSSFP.