Gradient echo MRI for measurement of the pulmonary autograft diameter after transplantation to the aortic root: Validation and comparison with ultrasound

The purpose of this study was to s the value of MRI for measurement of pulmonary autograft diameters after transplantation to the aortic root in adults. Thirty‐eight adults underwent this operation. MRI and trans‐esophageal echocardiography (TEE) were performed in 30 and 27 patients, respectively, after a mean follow‐up period of 2.8 years. For internal validation of MRI, measurements at the diastolic short and long axes of the sinus level were used. Pulmonary autograft diameters were measured and compared with MRI and TEE at five different levels: the subannular region (1), an‐nulus (2), sinus (3), sinotubular junction (4), and the distal part of the autograft (5). The correlation coefficient (r2) between long‐ and short‐axis measurements for corresponding sinuses was .97. Diameters obtained with MRI were 1 to 3 mm larger than those obtained with TEE (P < .05), except for the annulus at systole (P > .3). Cine gradient echo MRI is an appropriate technique to evaluate pulmonary autograft diameters during follow‐up. Concordance with TEE was good, apart from a systematic difference of ≈︁ 2 mm.