OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to show the usefulness of CT and MRA for more accurate definition of various congenital thoracic vascular anomalies in paediatric patients.
METHODS: 259 patients (from 1 day to 13 years) with suspected thoracic vascular anomalies underwent CT (203) and MRA (56).
RESULTS: CT and MRA accurately demonstrated total anomalous pulmonary venous connections in 24 (9,3%) patients, partial anomalous pulmonary venous in 23 (8,9%) patients, double aortic arch were in 13 (5,5%) patients. Interrupted aortic arch type A was in 4 patients (1,6%), type B in 1 (0,4%) patient. 28 (11,0%) patients had abnormalities in arch position: a right aortic arch with mirror image branching was present in 19 patients, a right aortic arch with an aberrant left subclavian artery in 9. A left aortic arch with aberrant right subclavian artery in 11 (4,2%). Coarctation of aorta in 81 (31,3%) patients. Truncus arteriosus was in 13 (5,0%) patients, aortopulmonary window was in 4 (1,5%) patients. 56 (21,7%) patients had pulmonary atresia with major aortopulmonary collaterals arteries, pulmonary artery sling -1 patient (0,4%). In 68% cases were combined congenital heart disease. Accurate diagnosis was obtained in 99,2%.
CONCLUSION: CT and MRA provided an excellent evaluation of the vessel anatomy. We prefer to use MRA for the evaluation of aortic coarctation, TA, CT is suitable for the evaluation of anomalous pulmonary venous connections, pulmonary atresia with MAPCAs and other vascular anomalies. CT better demonstrated the spatial relationship of the vascular anomalies and nonvascular structures.