Experience in 207 combined MRI examinations for acute pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis

The purpose of this study was to prospectively assess the feasibility and quality of combined MRI examinations consisting of thoracic MRI for suspected pulmonary embolism (PE) and MR venography for deep vein thrombosis (DVT), to assess the diagnostic yield of a combined examination for detecting thromboembolism compared with each component alone, and to retrospectively assess the concordance of duplex sonography and MR venography.

Two hundred twenty-one consecutive patients (119 men, 102 women; mean age, 51 years; range, 31-86 years) with suspected PE were examined using a multitechnique thoracic MRI protocol (real-time MRI using true fast imaging with steady-state precession [FISP], perfusion MRI, and MR angiography) followed by stepping-table MR venography.

Two hundred twenty-one thoracic MRI examinations were performed. Two hundred eighteen MR venography examinations were scheduled, of which five (2.3%) were not performed for clinical or technical reasons and six were not performed after negative thoracic MRI. Among 207 combined examinations, PE was diagnosed in 76 and DVT in 78 examinations. Thirteen patients without PE showed DVT; thus, MR venography detected 17% additional cases of thromboembolism. Agreement with duplex sonography was good at the upper leg (kappa = 0.87-0.89) but moderate at the pelvis (kappa = 0.59-0.65).

A combined "one-stop-shopping" MRI approach for PE and DVT was routinely feasible and detected 17% more cases of thromboembolism compared with separate examinations. MRI may be considered a second-line technique to avoid contraindications to CT but also a primary comprehensive technique for diagnosing thromboembolism.