Noninvasive imaging modalities, including echocardiography for screening, cardiac CT before corrective procedures, and serial cardiac MRI post-correction, are critical for evaluating aortic coarctation.
Coarctation of the aorta is a congenital heart disease, which is often associated with other cardiac and noncardiac anomalies. Early diagnoses, information about associated anomalies, and defining the severity of the disease are critical for appropriate treatment planning. In this regard, several noninvasive imaging modalities, such as echocardiography, cardiac computed tomography (CT), and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, have been used. Echocardiography, as an available and safe method, should be used as a primary screening test. It is also useful for intraoperative and hemodynamic studies, but cardiac CT is recommended before any corrective procedure or surgery. Cardiac CT angiography showed an excellent spatial resolution and a good capability for finding associated anomalies. After correction of coarctation of the aorta, serial cardiac magnetic resonance imaging is most commonly performed to avoid repeated radiation exposure.
Darabian et al. (Tue,) conducted a review in Coarctation of the aorta. Noninvasive imaging (echocardiography, cardiac CT, cardiac MRI) was evaluated. Noninvasive imaging modalities, including echocardiography for screening, cardiac CT before corrective procedures, and serial cardiac MRI post-correction, are critical for evaluating aortic coarctation.