Table 12.

Aortopathy and connective tissue disease standard imaging

Sequence	Imaging plane	Indication
Standard imaging
Cine bSSFP	Parallel to the LVOT in orthogonal planes, short axis of the aortic root, Short-axis of the largest diameter of the ascending aorta, sagittal oblique in long axis of the aortic arch (“candy cane”)	Aortic valve morphology, measurement of aortic root and ascending aorta, and assessment of aortic arch anatomy
Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography	3D volume, extend field of view superiorly to angle of the jaw	Extracardiac vascular anatomy for aneurysm formation and vertebral tortuosity
3D bSSFP, GRE or mDIXON FSE respiratory navigator-gated and ECG-triggered whole heart sequencea	3D volume	Extracardiac vascular assessment for aneurysm formation, measurement of aortic root
Phase contrast flow	Ascending aorta Descending aorta	Flow velocity and pattern
Additional case-specific or comprehensive imaging
Cine bSSFP	Ventricular short-axis or axial (transverse) stack	LV volumes, mass, and EF RV volumes, mass, and EF
Cine bSSFP	Extend field of view to include head, neck, abdomen, and pelvis	Loeys-Dietz syndrome
Proton-density-weighted FSE black blood imaging	Sagittal oblique in long axis of the aortic arch (“candy cane”)	Vascular anatomy
Cine bSSFP	Short and long axis of the region of interest	Concern for dissection or interarterial thrombus

3D 3-dimensional, ECG electrocardiogram, EF ejection fraction, GRE gradient echo, LV left ventricular, RV right ventricular, LVOT left ventricular outflow tract, bSSFP balanced steady state free precession, FSE fast spin echo

^aImaging can be performed during systole or diastole; newer sequences may provide both