Fetal Cardiac Magnetic Resonance (CMR)

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is present in 0.8% of all live births and is therefore one of the most common congenital malformations (Fyler et al., 1980). The spectrum of congenital heart defects is significantly higher in fetuses than in live born infants because of their reduced viability (Tennstedt et al., 1999). The prognosis of congenital heart disease can be poor; almost one third to one half of congenital heart defects are severe and lethal unless an intervention is done early (Hoffman & Kaplan, 2002). Prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart disease results in referral of mothers with affe1cted fetuses to equipped centers where all facilities for neonatal cardiac care are available. The diagnosis of a congenital heart disease in a fetus should also prompt evaluation for genetic syndromes and associated non cardiac malformations (Cohen, 2001). Improvements in diagnosis and treatment have lead to more patients surviving to adulthood (Carvalho et al., 2002).