Magnetic resonance imaging of the thyroid, thymus, and parathyroid glands

Magnetic resonance (MR) images of the neck were obtained in 16 patients with use of a variety of spin echo and inversion recovery pulse sequences. Anatomic resolution was best with high-resolution spin echo images obtained with the pulse sequence repetition rate equal to 2.0 seconds and the echo delay equal to 28 msec because this imaging technique offered excellent contrast between normal tissues and had the highest signal noise ratio. The spatial resolution of MR was nearly as good as state of the art computerized tomography (CT). However, streak artifacts caused by motion and x-ray beam hardening often limited CT but did not affect MR. Tumors and lymph nodes were more easily differentiated from muscle and blood vessels with MR than with CT because of the superior soft-tissue contrast of MR. Tissue characterization allowed MR differentiation of thyroid nodules, thyroid cysts, and parathyroid tumors from normal thyroid tissue. Thyroid cyst fluid had the greatest water content and longest T1 and T2 relaxation times of all tissues studied. However, nonspecifically increased T1 and T2 relaxation times overlapped for a variety of neoplastic and inflammatory conditions. With further experience, MR imaging is likely to become a useful technique for the evaluation of neck masses.