Initial experience with lung-MRI at 3.0T: Comparison with CT and clinical data in the evaluation of interstitial lung disease activity.
OBJECTIVE
We evaluated the feasibility of highfield lung-MRI at 3.0T. A comparison with Computed Tomography (CT) and clinical data regarding the assessment of inflammatory activity in patients with diffuse lung disease was performed.


METHODS
Prospective evaluation of 21 patients (15 males, 6 females, 43-80 y) with diffuse lung diseases who underwent clinical work-up inclusive laboratory tests, lung-function tests and transbronchial biopsy. After routine helical CT (additional 12 HRCT) a lung-MRI (3.0 Intera, Philips Medical Systems, Best, The Netherlands) using a T2-weighted, cardiac and respiratory triggered Fast-Spinecho-Sequence (TE/TR=80/1500-2500 ms, 22 transverse slices, 7/2mm slice-thickness/-gap) was performed. A pneumologist classified the cases into two groups: A=temporary acute interstitial disease or chronic interstitial lung disease with acute episode or superimposed infection/B=burned out interstitial lung disease without activity. Two blinded CT-radiologists graded the cases in active/inactive disease on the basis of nine morphological criteria each. A third radiologist rated the MRI-cases as active/inactive, depending on the signal-intensities of lung tissues.


RESULTS
The pneumologist classified 14 patients into group A and 7 patients into group B. Using CT, 6 cases were classified as active, 15 cases as inactive disease. With MRI 12 cases were classified as active and 9 cases as inactive. In the complete group of 21 patients MRI decisions and CT decisions respectively were false positive/false negative/correct in 2/4/15 respectively 0/8/13 cases. Correct diagnoses were obtained in 72% (MRI) respectively 62% (CT). In the subgroup of 12 cases including HRCT, MRI respectively CT were false positive/false negative/correct in 2/1/9 respectively 0/5/7 cases. Correct diagnoses were obtained in 75% (MRI) respectively 58% (CT).


CONCLUSIONS
Highfield MRI of the lung is feasible and performed slightly better compared to CT in the determination of activity in patients with interstitial lung diseases.
Lutterbey
G
G
Department of Radiology, University of Bonn, Sigmund-Freud-Strasse 25, D-53105 Bonn, Germany. goetz.lutterbey@ukb.uni-bonn.de
Grohé
C
C
Gieseke
J
J
von Falkenhausen
M
M
Morakkabati
N
N
Wattjes
M P
MP
Manka
R
R
Trog
D
D
Schild
H H
HH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017563:Lung Diseases, Interstitial / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed