[2D time of flight stereoscopic MR angiography of pulmonary vessels]

Two-dimensional (2D) time-of-flight (TOF) stereoscopic MR angiographies (MRA) of the pulmonary vessels were obtained from 15 healthy volunteers and five patients with pulmonary cancer in the mediastinum and pulmonary hilum. Fifteen healthy volunteers were examined using FLASH (Fast Low Angle Shot) with breath holding (40/8/40, TR/TE/flip angle). Except for the left superior pulmonary vein, pulmonary vessels in the mediastinum and hilum were well defined on stereoscopic MRA images. Although it was difficult to define the pulmonary arteries in the peripheral zone, intersegmental veins were easily defined with this method. In five cases of pulmonary cancer that were confirmed to show definite tumor involvement of the pulmonary vessels in the mediastinum and hilum by enhanced CT and MRI (SE method), irregular narrowing and interruption of the vessels were shown on MRA. In conclusion, 2D TOF stereoscopic MRA is considered a noninvasive, effective method for evaluation of the morphology of pulmonary vessels adjacent to the tumor in the mediastinum and hilum.