title: The initial Trinidad experience with Cine MRI in clinical cardiology.
abstract: We describe the initial Trinidad experience with Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Cine MRI as a diagnostic tool in clinical cardiology. Six patients from the following categories were referred for Cine MRI evaluation: congenital heart disease, valvular heart disease, aortic diseases, cardiomyopathy and intracardiac mass. All patients underwent echocardiography. MRI and Cine MRI were performed on all patients using a Siemens Magnetom 1.0 Tesla MR system at MRI Trinidad and Tobago Ltd. Selected patients underwent Angiography and/or computed tomography (CT) scanning. Clinical data and images of the six patients evaluated are described. MRI and Cine MRI provided excellent anatomical and functional details of the heart and aorta in five patients with dissection of the aorta, aneurysm of the ascending aorta, suspected left ventricular apical thrombus, infiltrative cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia. Technical difficulty was experienced with one patient who had a congenital defect (common atrium). In this study, Cine MRI provided excellent images in all but one patient. This new noninvasive technique enhanced diagnostic capabilities and facilitated management in patients with certain cardiovascular diseases.
authors.affiliation: Cardiopulmonary Research Unit, University of the West Indies, Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Champs Fleurs, Trinidad and Tobago. CPRU@tstt.net.tt
authors.forename: C N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Maharaj
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bodapati
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: John
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rahaman
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Henry
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D001022:Aortic Valve Insufficiency / Q000175:diagnosis; D006332:Cardiomegaly / Q000175:diagnosis; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000175:diagnosis; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D004452:Echocardiography; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D019028:Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014300:Trinidad and Tobago