title: Pulmonary vein morphology by free-breathing whole heart magnetic resonance imaging at 3 Tesla versus breathhold multi-detector computed tomography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare pulmonary vein and left atrial anatomy using three-dimensional free-breathing whole-heart magnetic resonance imaging (MR) at 3 Tesla (T) and multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT).
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-three subjects (19 male, age 49 ± 12 years) underwent free-breathing 3T MR and contrast-enhanced MDCT during inspiratory breath hold. Pulmonary vein parameters (ostial areas, diameters, angles) were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All pulmonary veins and anomalies were identified by 3T MR and by MDCT. The right-sided pulmonary veins were directed more posteriorly, the right superior pulmonary vein more inferiorly, and the right inferior pulmonary vein more superiorly by 3T MR when compared with MDCT. The cross-sectional area, perimeters and minimum diameters of right-sided pulmonary vein ostia were significantly larger by MR, as were the maximum diameters of right and left inferior pulmonary veins. There were no significant differences between techniques in distance to first pulmonary vein branch.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pulmonary vein measurements demonstrated significant differences in angulations and dimensions when 3T MR is compared with MDCT. These differences likely represent hemodynamic and respiratory variation during free-breathing with MR versus breath-holding with MDCT. MR imaging at 3T during free-breathing offers an alternate method to define pulmonary vein and left atrial anatomy without exposure to radiation.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Eszter
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fodi
authors.forename: Dorothea
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: McAreavey
authors.forename: Khaled Z
authors.initials: KZ
authors.lastname: Abd-Elmoniem
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ohayon
authors.forename: Magdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saba
authors.forename: Abdalla
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Elagha
authors.forename: Roderic I
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Pettigrew
authors.forename: Ahmed M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Gharib
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D062485:Breath Holding; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061330:Multidetector Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D011667:Pulmonary Veins / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D055425:Respiratory-Gated Imaging Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity