Cardiac magnetic resonance (MR) imaging plays a crucial role in the assessment of congenital heart disease, providing both anatomical and functional information. Unlike X-ray angiography, cardiac MR is noninvasive, does not use iodinated contrast agents or ionizing radiation, making it suitable for both children and adults. The basic techniques for evaluating congenital heart disease include black-blood and bright-blood gradient recalled cine techniques. Black-blood methods, such as double inversion recovery half-Fourier single-shot turbo spin echo (HASTE) and fast spin echo (FSE), are optimal for young children as they are nonbreath-hold and faster than traditional spin echo imaging. Bright-blood cine images are essential for diagnosing small intracardiac shunts, assessing valvular abnormalities, and evaluating ventricular function. The imaging process involves several steps, including patient screening, equipment setup, and specific imaging sequences. Patient screening includes checking for contraindications, obtaining allergy history, and assessing the need for emergency equipment. Equipment setup involves positioning the patient, attaching ECG leads, and ensuring proper coil placement. Imaging sequences include black-blood HASTE, T1-weighted turbo spin echo (TSE), and cine gradient echo (GRE) sequences, each with specific parameters to optimize image quality and acquisition efficiency. For intracardiac shunt assessment, gradient recalled echo cine MRI is particularly useful, as it can help identify atrial septal defects (ASDs), ventricular septal defects (VSDs), or patent foramen ovale (PFOs). Bright-blood cine MR not only detects the presence of shunts but also quantifies their extent and direction. Phase-contrast imaging can provide quantitative information on shunt size and pressure gradients. For valve assessment, cine images can visually demonstrate jets from stenoses or turbulence caused by regurgitant flow. Phase-contrast sequences can be used to assess valve stenoses and insufficiency, providing quantitative measurements of pressure gradients and regurgitant volumes. Contrast-enhanced gradient recalled echo sequences are valuable for assessing congenital aortic and pulmonary artery anomalies, such as pulmonary artery stenoses or atresia in tetralogy of Fallot, and aortic arch anomalies in conditions like coarctation or Shone's syndrome. Overall, cardiac MR imaging offers a comprehensive and noninvasive approach to the diagnosis and assessment of congenital heart disease, providing detailed anatomical and functional information that is often not available with other imaging modalities.Cardiac magnetic resonance (MR) imaging plays a crucial role in the assessment of congenital heart disease, providing both anatomical and functional information. Unlike X-ray angiography, cardiac MR is noninvasive, does not use iodinated contrast agents or ionizing radiation, making it suitable for both children and adults. The basic techniques for evaluating congenital heart disease include black-blood and bright-blood gradient recalled cine techniques. Black-blood methods, such as double inversion recovery half-Fourier single-shot turbo spin echo (HASTE) and fast spin echo (FSE), are optimal for young children as they are nonbreath-hold and faster than traditional spin echo imaging. Bright-blood cine images are essential for diagnosing small intracardiac shunts, assessing valvular abnormalities, and evaluating ventricular function. The imaging process involves several steps, including patient screening, equipment setup, and specific imaging sequences. Patient screening includes checking for contraindications, obtaining allergy history, and assessing the need for emergency equipment. Equipment setup involves positioning the patient, attaching ECG leads, and ensuring proper coil placement. Imaging sequences include black-blood HASTE, T1-weighted turbo spin echo (TSE), and cine gradient echo (GRE) sequences, each with specific parameters to optimize image quality and acquisition efficiency. For intracardiac shunt assessment, gradient recalled echo cine MRI is particularly useful, as it can help identify atrial septal defects (ASDs), ventricular septal defects (VSDs), or patent foramen ovale (PFOs). Bright-blood cine MR not only detects the presence of shunts but also quantifies their extent and direction. Phase-contrast imaging can provide quantitative information on shunt size and pressure gradients. For valve assessment, cine images can visually demonstrate jets from stenoses or turbulence caused by regurgitant flow. Phase-contrast sequences can be used to assess valve stenoses and insufficiency, providing quantitative measurements of pressure gradients and regurgitant volumes. Contrast-enhanced gradient recalled echo sequences are valuable for assessing congenital aortic and pulmonary artery anomalies, such as pulmonary artery stenoses or atresia in tetralogy of Fallot, and aortic arch anomalies in conditions like coarctation or Shone's syndrome. Overall, cardiac MR imaging offers a comprehensive and noninvasive approach to the diagnosis and assessment of congenital heart disease, providing detailed anatomical and functional information that is often not available with other imaging modalities.