Magnetic resonance of the chest: initial experience with imaging and in vivo T1 and T2 calculations.

Abstract

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the chest was performed in 33 patients; 28 patients had a variety of malignant tumors and five had benign processes involving the pleura, chest wall, mediastinum, hila , and pulmonary parenchyma. In addition, in vivo T1 and T2 calculations were performed on 17 malignancies and 2 benign processes. Of the 18 patients examined with both MR and computed tomography (CT), 15 MR examinations were considered to be as diagnostic as CT in demonstrating abnormalities. In two cases, CT was superior to MR. In one case without adequate vascular opacification on CT, MR was superior in differentiating a mass from pulmonary artery. It is concluded that, with current technology without respiratory or cardiac gating, MR offers little improvement in diagnosis over contrast-enhanced CT. Furthermore, it does not appear possible to predict tissue type based on T1 and T2 measurements because of a wide overlap in these values.

Quantitative MR in the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis

“…Systematic differences between different regions in the brain were minimized by comparing relaxation times from similar areas in patients and controls. The calculation of the intrinsic tissue parameters TI and T2 from MR images has been described in previous publications in which the emphasis was on tissue characterization (9)(10)(11)(12)(13). T1 and T2 values are not significantly affected by blood pressure, smoking, alcohol, medications, dietary habits, and demographic factors, and are only slightly correlated with age ( 14).…”

Correlation between high-resolution computed tomographic, magnetic resonance and pathological findings in cases with non-cancerous but suspicious lung nodules

“…Axial post-contrast T1-weighted SE images were acquired at 14±16 min after contrast administration (delayed image). The MR images were interpreted based on intensity characteristics with T1-and T2-weighted images and a percentage increase in signal intensity (%SI) on the postcontrast dynamic images [15,16,17]. The %SI = (SI postcontrast -SI precontrast ) 100/SI precontrast were determined according to Gückel et al [15].…”

The Role of First-Pass Perfusion Computed Tomography in the Differentiation of Centrally Located Lung Cancer and Distal Atelectasis

“…The role of conventional MRI in differentiating the central tumor from postobstructive atelectasis is still controversial [12]. There are studies claiming that the in vivo T1 and T2 signal intensity of malignant tumors significantly overlaps the values of benign processes in the lung parenchyma [14,15]. suggested that DAG can be used to differentiate lung cancer from collapsed lung tissue [16].…”