MRI signal characteristics of progressive massive fibrosis in silicosis.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signal characteristics of progressive massive fibrosis (PMF) in silicosis.


METHODS
We evaluated prospectively the MR appearances in 17 patients with 34 PMF lesions on the basis of pre-contrast signal intensity (SI) and SI pattern and post-contrast enhancement pattern, using a 0.5-T unit. There were 13 PMF lesions in six patients who had silicosis and 21 PMF lesions in 11 patients who had silicotuberculosis. The SI pattern on T2-weighted image (WI) was classified into four types and the pattern of contrast enhancement on T1-WI was classified into three types. MR appearances of PMF lesions were correlated with the findings of computed tomography (CT).


RESULTS
The commonest signal intensity characteristic was isointensity (70%) on T1-WI and hypointensity (68%) on T2-WI when compared with skeletal muscle. For signal pattern on T2-WI, a type with only internal high SI areas (46% in silicosis group, 38% in silicotuberculosis group) was most frequent. All of these areas corresponded to the low density areas at CT, suggestive of necrosis. After intravenous contrast medium enhancement, rim enhancement (54% in silicosis group, 52% in silicotuberculosis group) was most frequent, followed by no enhancement.


CONCLUSIONS
The most common MRI appearance of PMF was isointensity on T1-WI and hypointensity on T2-WI when compared with skeletal muscle, with internal high SI areas on T2-WI and either rim enhancement or no enhancement.
Department of Radiology, Oita Medical University, Hasamamachi, Japan.
S
S
Matsumoto
H
H
Mori
H
H
Miyake
Y
Y
Yamada
S
S
Ueda
M
M
Oga
H
H
Takeoka
K
K
Anan
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018450:Disease Progression; D005355:Fibrosis; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012829:Silicosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D012830:Silicotuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed