Dimensions of the ascending aorta in children and adolescents with repaired Tetralogy of Fallot obtained by cardiac magnetic resonance angiography.

INTRODUCTION: Dilatation of the ascending aorta is a common finding in Tetralogy of fallot (TOF). We sought to provide aortic dimensions in children and adolescents after corrected TOF obtained by contrast-enhanced cardiac-magnetic-resonance angiography (CE-CMRA) that could serve as reference values.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: We enrolled 101 children and adolescents (56 male) with a median age of 10.9 years. All patients underwent CE-CMRA imaging using a 3-dimensional spoiled gradient-echo-sequence. Aortic diameters were measured at the level of the aortic valve (AV), aortic sinus (AS), sino-tubular junction (STJ) and the ascending aorta (AA) and compared with normal values obtained from literature. Sex-specific aortic dimensions are given as percentile curves as well as z scores. Furthermore CMR volumetric and functional parameters as well as clinical and anamnestic data were analyzed to identify parameters that are associated with aortic dilatation.

RESULTS: Diameters for aortic size for males were 3.6 + 16.6*BSA(0.5) at the AV level, 7.0 + 19.5*BSA(0.5) at the AS level, 7.0 + 14.4*BSA(0.5) at the STJ level and 7.3 + 15.5*BSA(0.5) at the AA level. Diameters for females were 5.8 + 14.1*BSA(0.5) at the AV level, 7.2 + 17.6*BSA(0.5) at the AS level, 5.2 + 15.4*BSA(0.5) at the STJ level and 2.0 + 17.8*BSA(0.5) at the AA level. All diameters in TOF patients were larger compared with normal values. The postoperative interval and age at examination were the only parameters associated with aortic size at all measured levels.

CONCLUSION: We provide CE-CMRA data of aortic dimensions in children and adolescents after correction of TOF. Our data might be useful for an estimation of the "normal" aortic size in this patient cohort and can serve as a basis for future longitudinal studies adding prognostic data.