Imaging the adult with transposition of the great arteries.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Patients with complete and congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries commonly survive into adulthood and present with a vast array of clinical residua.

RECENT FINDINGS: Echocardiography remains the primary imaging modality in the routine assessment of the adult with transposition of the great arteries. It provides a comprehensive anatomic and hemodynamic evaluation. Limitations to echocardiography include evaluation of the following: the systemic right ventricle, baffle patency following atrial switch procedure, coronary arteries following arterial switch procedure or Nikadoh, and multilevel right ventricular outflow tract obstruction.

SUMMARY: Each form of palliation for transposition of the great arteries results in unique long-term sequelae that affect outcomes. A multimodality approach to imaging is required for a complete evaluation.