Magnetic resonance angiography in children: technique, indications, and imaging findings

Non-invasive imaging of cardiovascular disease in pediatric subjects has been an elusive and much anticipated development for many years. Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) has now been established in many institutions as an important diagnostic method for evaluating vascular disease in adults. However, MRA techniques have disseminated more slowly in children owing to significant technical challenges in the pediatric population, including motion, low signal-to-noise ratio, and suboptimal temporal or spatial resolution. Recent technical developments in MRA have addressed many of these issues, and the MRA acquisition methods are far more robust than previously used techniques. The objective of this manuscript is to discuss the indications for MR imaging, the techniques employed, and the imaging findings expected on MRA of children with vascular disease.