Anomalies of pulmonary veins: usefulness of spin-echo and gradient-echo MR images.
OBJECTIVE
We compared the value of spin-echo and gradient-echo MR images in the evaluation of anomalies of pulmonary veins.


METHODS
Fourteen patients with a variety of developmental anomalies of pulmonary veins underwent MR imaging examination. Axial T1-weighted spin-echo and gradient-echo MR images were evaluated retrospectively on separate occasions during which visualization of normal and anomalous pulmonary veins was determined.


RESULTS
Of 52 pulmonary veins, 46 (88%) were identified on T1-weighted spin-echo images and 50 (96%) on gradient-echo images. Two patients had atresia of both left pulmonary veins. Of 14 anomalous veins, 11 (79%) were revealed on spin-echo images and 13 (93%) on gradient-echo images.


CONCLUSIONS
Both spin-echo and gradient-echo MR images were accurate in revealing anomalies of pulmonary veins. In our study, gradient-echo images were equal or superior to spin-echo images.
White
C S
CS
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore 21201, USA.
Baffa
J M
JM
Haney
P J
PJ
Campbell
A B
AB
NessAiver
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016121:Brachiocephalic Veins / Q000002:abnormalities; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000002:abnormalities; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008168:Lung / Q000002:abnormalities; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000002:abnormalities; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011667:Pulmonary Veins / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014683:Vena Cava, Superior / Q000002:abnormalities