MR appearance of the normal chest after pneumonectomy

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the chest was performed in nine patients who had undergone pneumonectomy, to evaluate postoperative chest anatomical changes. The main criterion of selection in this study was the absence of cancer recurrence at the time of the study and 6 months later (normal clinical, fiberoptical and cytological data and normal laboratory values). All the MR studies were compared with chest CT performed within 15 days after MR imaging. Postpneumonectomy space revealed in all cases a heterogeneous signal both on T1- and T2-weighted spin-echo sequences. Vascular and bronchial stumps were clearly delineated and surrounded by low signal areas, considered to be postoperative scars. Spatial involvement was well understood with frontal and axial views. Calcifications were poorly identified. Surgical clips were easily detected, but they were difficult to locate accurately. No adverse effects was reported, either in patients with or without surgical clips.