Neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging for preoperative evaluation of cerebral microstructure and neurodevelopment in children with congenital heart disease

Background

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is a type of heart structure defect caused by the abnormal development of the heart and major blood vessels during the embryonic stage. With the continuous innovation of surgical treatment techniques and the improvement of perioperative management, the survival rate of children with CHD has significantly improved. However, accompanying central nervous system development problems have become increasingly prominent. This study investigated the clinical utility of neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI) in evaluating preoperative cerebral microstructural features and neurodevelopmental status in children with CHD.