MR imaging of the pulmonary vasculature--an update.
Although the advent of multi-detector row computed tomography (CT) angiography has been at the heart of improving the diagnostic management of pulmonary vascular disease, MR technology has also moved forward. This review outlines the current state of affairs of MR techniques for the assessment of pulmonary vascular diseases such as pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary arteritis and arteriovenous malformations. It highlights the main areas of MR angiography and MR perfusion imaging and discusses novel methods, such as non-contrast enhanced direct thrombus imaging, and will discuss its merits in the context of other diagnostic modalities.
Pedersen
Mark R
MR
Department of Radiology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1077, USA.
Fisher
Mark T
MT
van Beek
Edwin J R
EJ
D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D008168:Lung / Q000098:blood supply*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000175:diagnosis; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*