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Oak Brook Today
By the People, for the People
New 3D MRI Tech Helps Doctors Precisely Treat Kids' Heart Defects
Technique allows physicians to see heart tissue and blood flow simultaneously, guiding surgical planning.
Published on Feb. 13, 2026
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Researchers at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia have developed a new 3D volume rendering method for cardiac MRI that displays complex heart structures and blood flow simultaneously. This allows doctors to precisely identify and plan to repair heart defects in young patients, guiding surgical treatment decisions.
Why it matters
The new MRI visualization technique provides a more comprehensive view of the heart than traditional methods like ultrasound or CT scans. By seeing both anatomy and blood flow together, doctors can better understand the specific nature of a child's heart defect and plan the most effective surgical repair, which is crucial for complex congenital heart conditions.
The details
The 3D volume rendering assigns colors and transparency to different heart tissues based on their MRI appearance, making the valve leaflets, muscle, and blood flow visible all at once. This allows doctors to pinpoint exactly where valves are leaking or structures are abnormal, information that guides the surgical approach. The technique is faster and provides a wider field of view compared to other imaging modalities like ultrasound.
- The research was published on February 13, 2026 in the journal Radiology: Cardiothoracic Imaging.
The players
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP)
A leading pediatric hospital where the new 3D cardiac MRI visualization techniques were developed.
Matthew Jolley, M.D.
A pediatric cardiac anesthesiologist and cardiologist at CHOP and an associate professor at the University of Pennsylvania, who co-authored the study.
What they’re saying
“Think of it like adjusting the settings on a photograph to highlight certain features. We developed specific settings that make heart muscle and heart valves visible while making blood and surrounding tissues transparent.”
— Matthew Jolley, M.D., Pediatric cardiac anesthesiologist and cardiologist (Radiology: Cardiothoracic Imaging)
“In patients with holes in the heart structure or leaflets that don't form a complete seal, we can now see the valve leaflets moving and identify exactly where a valve is leaking, which has not been possible with MRI before this technique.”
— Matthew Jolley, M.D., Pediatric cardiac anesthesiologist and cardiologist (Radiology: Cardiothoracic Imaging)
What’s next
The research team has made their new cardiac image processing tools, called SlicerHeart, available for free at SlicerHeart.org to support further research and treatment in cardiovascular medicine, especially for congenital heart disease.
The takeaway
This new 3D MRI visualization technique gives doctors an unprecedented view of complex heart structures and blood flow, allowing them to precisely identify and plan surgical repairs for children born with heart defects. It represents a significant advancement in cardiac imaging that can improve treatment outcomes for these young patients.
