Purpose or Case Report: Purpose: The long-term effects from gadolinium tissue deposition in organs and the brain is unknown especially in children who may need repeated contrast studies for necessary follow-up of cardiovascular abnormalities. We aim to show the utility of a non-contrast MRA sequence in older children and young adults undergoing chest and/or abdominal MRA.
Methods & Materials: Methods: We retrospectively review the utility of non-contrast navigator-triggered and ECG-gated 3D steady-state free precession (SSFP) imaging of the chest and abdomen generally acquired in the coronal plane performed for evaluation of cardiovascular abnormalities.
Results: Results: When acquired during diastole to limit the amount of turbulent flow, non-contrast 3D SSFP imaging is successful in all patients who are able to remain still with regular breathing rates. The studies are diagnostic in over 90% of all older children and young adults with non-diagnostic imaging only occurring when there is substantial flow turbulence related to vascular or valve stenosis. The pulmonary veins are also occasionally not well visualized. There can be substantial artifact in younger children. A contrast-enhanced study should be performed following a non-diagnostic non-contrast study which will occur in a small percentage of older children and young adult patients.
Conclusions: Conclusions: Gadolinium based contrast can be eliminated for most chest and abdomen MRA studies in older children and young adults.