MR evaluation of the pericardium and cardiac malignancies

The pericardium and cardiac malignancies are well visualized on MR imaging because of the superb contrast resolution and multiplanar capability of the technique. This article highlights some of the clinical uses of MR imaging in evaluating the pericardium and cardiac lesions and provides comparison with echocardiography and CT scan. Specific diseases that are described include pericardial effusion, constrictive pericarditis, neoplastic pericardial disease, congenital abnormalities of the pericardium, benign, malignant and metastatic cardiac tumors, and paracardiac masses. This article discusses the impact of newer MR techniques such as cine MR imaging on the assessment of pericardial disease and cardiac lesions.