MR imaging of congenital anomalies of the thoracic aorta and pulmonary arteries.

MR imaging has rapidly assumed an important role in the diagnosis of congenital anomalies of the aortic arch and pulmonary arteries. Because it is noninvasive and does not involve the use of ionizing radiation, it is particularly useful in children and in clinical settings that require serial follow-up studies, such as in patients with aortic aneurysm and in postoperative patients. In the evaluation of the pulmonary arteries of patients with pulmonary artery or right ventricular outflow tract obstructive lesions, MR imaging has become a frequently used noninvasive imaging technique for determining pulmonary artery configuration and for monitoring pulmonary artery growth. The large field of view and high-quality images afforded by MR imaging make it a useful diagnostic tool that can supplement, confirm, and in some instances supplant the use of other conventional imaging techniques.