title: Cardiac MRI: diagnostic gain of an additional axial SSFP chest sequence for the detection of potentially significant extracardiac findings in the cardiac MRI examination setting.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cardiac MRI (CMRI) is an effective method for imaging of the heart. The aim of our study was to assess whether an axial chest sequence in addition to the standard CMR examination setting has advantages in the detection of potentially significant extracardiac findings (PSEF).
  
  
  METHODS
  400 consecutive patients were imaged at 1.5 T for clinical reasons. In addition to the standard long and short-axis views, an axial SSFP sequence was obtained covering the thorax from the lung apex to the diaphragm. All sequences were separately evaluated for PSEF.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 25 PSEF were diagnosed in 400 patients, including 16 pleural effusions, a pulmonary fibrosis, a spondylodiscitis, ascites, lymphadenopathies, relapse of a mamma carcinoma, growth of adrenal glands metastases and diaphragmatic elevation. All 25 PSEF were detected by reading survey sequences. 24 of the 25 PSEF were detected by the additional SSFP chest sequence as well as the CINE sequences.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our study the additional axial SSFP chest sequence didn't show a benefit in the detection of PSEF. With the survey sequences we were able to detect all PSEF. We conclude that survey images should be assessed for additional findings.
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Giessen, Department Radiology.
authors.forename: F C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Roller
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Giessen, Department Radiology.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Giessen, Department Cardiology.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schuhbäck
authors.affiliation: Kerckhoff Hospital Bad Nauheim, Department Cardiology.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rolf
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Giessen, Department Radiology.
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Krombach
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019028:Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013896:Thoracic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013909:Thorax / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult