[Usefulness of nuclear magnetic resonance in the diagnosis of aortic coarctation and recoarctation]. / Utilidad de la resonancia nuclear magnética para el diagnóstico de la coartación y recoartación aórtica.

OBJECTIVE: To assess nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) usefulness in aortic coarctation and recoarctation diagnosis. MATERIAL: 46 NMR performed on 43 patients: aortic coarctation was suspected in 30 patients and recoarctation in 13 by means of clinical, echocardiographic and Doppler examination. METHOD: Comparison of the NMR observations with the previous diagnosis and the surgical and therapeutic catheterism findings. RESULTS: 41 patients were diagnosed of aortic coarctation or recoarctation by NMR, although a second examination was needed in 3 cases. This diagnosis was confirmed in the 26 treated children (surgical treatment or by angioplasty). CONCLUSIONS: NMR offers excellent aortic images; positive diagnoses have a high safety level, but patients with negative diagnoses must be clinically followed; children suffering from native coarctation can be operated without previous angiographic examination.