[Diagnosis of double aortic arch in the neonatal period. Contribution of magnetic resonance imaging. Apropos of a case].

The authors report a case of double aortic arch in the newborn (age: 1 month) explored with magnetic resonance imaging. MRI offers a non invasive and non ionizing examination very well-tolerated by the patient if a correct methodology is used (total acquisition time 40 mn). The quality of the images is sufficient for diagnosis and presurgical evaluation: the diameter, the permeability and the relationship with the surrounding organs of the respective aortic arches were well demonstrated with this technique. The contributions of MRI with respect to 2-D echocardiography and angiography as well as the future possible totally non invasive evaluation of this cardiac anomaly is discussed.