Thoracic calcifications on magnetic resonance imaging: correlations with computed tomography

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Medical Imaging
• Thoracic Imaging

Background:

• Thoracic calcifications are common findings.
• Characterizing these calcifications on magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is crucial for diagnosis.
• Understanding the relationship between MR imaging and computed tomography (CT) findings is important.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify the characteristics of thoracic calcifications on MR imaging.
• To explore correlations between MR imaging and CT findings of thoracic calcifications.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study of 62 patients with thoracic calcifications on CT.
• Analysis of T1- and T2-weighted MR images (WIs).
• Calculation of lesion-to-muscle signal intensity ratio (LMSIR) and comparison between neoplastic and non-neoplastic lesions.

Main Results:

• Eighty-four calcified lesions were analyzed.
• Most lesions were hypointense on T1- and T2-WIs, with some undetectable or hyperintense.
• Median LMSIR was higher for neoplastic lesions; CT lesion density showed a weak negative correlation with T2-WI LMSIR.

Conclusions:

• Thoracic calcifications exhibit variable signal intensity on MR imaging, including hyperintensity.
• CT lesion density is negatively correlated with MR signal intensity, aiding in characterization.