NMR evaluation of hilar and mediastinal lymphadenopathy

Eighteen patients with hilar or mediastinal masses demonstrated at CT were selected for examination by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Only regions identified as abnormal on CT scans were scanned by NMR. All patients had histologically proved disease or characteristic findings on the CT scan. The NMR images of two patients were uninterpretable, but all other images clearly distinguished masses from either blood vessels or normal mediastinal tissues without the use of contrast medium. In four cases NMR showed a greater extent of disease than did CT. NMR is a promising modality for visualizing hilar and mediastinal masses.