Cardiac Imaging

The Cardiac Imaging team of specialists at SickKids work in the CDIU to provide expert non-invasive diagnostic evaluation in the modalities of cardiac chest x-ray, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and computed tomography (CT). State-of-the-art imaging techniques are specifically tailored for each patient to provide detailed individualized information about cardiovascular anatomy, function, and hemodynamics. This information contributes to treatment decision making, surgical planning, and best patient outcomes. 

About us

Our service is comprised of three core foundations:

Excellence in patient-centred clinical care

Our team is highly subspecialized and experienced. We work in seamless collaboration with our surgical and medical colleagues in the Labatt Family Heart Centre. Each cardiac MRI or CT is directly supervised in-person by a subspecialist cardiac imaging physician expert. We are committed to always providing the highest quality patient-centred care.

Global education and training

Our team has a strong legacy of global education and outreach. We offer a one- to two-year dedicated subspecialty fellowship in cardiovascular MRI and a two-year research fellowship in cardiovascular imaging. Learn more about the Subspecialties Fellowship.

Transformative cardiac imaging research

Our physicians partner with imaging scientists in the SickKids Research Institute to constantly advance our imaging techniques and knowledge of disease to best care for patients.

Notable areas of academic focus include:

• 3D-printing of congenital heart disease
• Non-invasive imaging biomarkers in single ventricle disease
• Myocardial tissue characterization
• Cardiovascular blood flow
• Fetal MRI (see below)

The team’s top priority is to always provide exemplary individualized patient- and family centered care to achieve the best outcomes.

Fetal MRI

Medical imaging plays a vital role in the diagnosis and management of fetal cardiac abnormalities during pregnancy. While ultrasound is the current standard for fetal imaging, there is growing interest in the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to evaluate the fetal heart in cases where ultrasound cannot provide a complete diagnosis.

Fetal MRI is challenging due to the size of fetal heart structures, relatively high fetal heart rates, and multiple sources of motion that occur during the scan. The Fetal MRI group focuses on novel approaches that address the technical challenges of imaging the fetus and explore new ways to assess and manage diseases that affect the fetal heart and placenta.