Magnetic resonance of the pulmonary parenchyma: initial experience at 0.6 Tesla

Twenty-one patients with a variety of pulmonary parenchymal abnormalities were imaged by MR utilizing 0.6 Tesla superconducting magnet. Because of the relative paucity of protons in the pulmonary parenchyma, there is minimal MR signal from normal lungs. Parenchymal abnormalities, however, are almost invariably associated with increased proton density in the pulmonary parenchyma. Because of this, abnormalities were apparent on MR images in all cases. MR imaging of the parenchyma is hampered by cardiac and respiratory motion, partial volume averaging, and limited resolution.