[Magnetic resonance tomography (MRT) in pleural diseases. A comparison with CT and histopathological findings]

The MRI and CT appearances in 48 patients with histologically confirmed benign and malignant pleural abnormalities were compared retrospectively. Abnormal pleural changes were shown in 47 out of the 48 patients by high signal intensity of the pleura in T2-weighted sequences and in contrast enhanced T1-weighted sequences on MRI. CT showed abnormalities in 45 out of 48 patients. Delineation of pleural and pulmonary changes by CT was possible in 13 out of 23 cases, and pleural disease from effusions in 15 out of 28 cases. T2-weighted MRI was successful in 14 out of 23 and 4 out of 28 cases, respectively. T1-weighted images after contrast were successful in 20 out of 23 and 22 out of 28 cases, respectively. Indications of malignant pleural disease were the presence of mediastinal or circumferential involvement or involvement of the entire pleura, thickness of more than 10 mm and nodular changes. The most reliable sign of malignancy was infiltration of the thoracic wall and the diaphragm; this was better demonstrated by MRI (18 out of 19 and 2 out of 2 cases) than by CT (14 out of 19 and 0 out of 2 cases).