Coronary-pulmonary artery fistulae depicted by multiplanar reconstruction using magnetic resonance imaging

We compared the imaging capability of magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) with that of conventional coronary angiography in a patient with coronary-pulmonary fistulae. Using the latter procedure, it is difficult to measure abnormal tortuous blood vessels in one section. However, the course of blood vessels could be evaluated quite well by rearranging serial cross-sectional MRA images using multiplanar reconstruction (MPR). This procedure allowed us to determine the anatomic positional relationship of these vessels to the peripheral cardiac great vascular system. MPR may detect sites of influx and outflow of abnormal blood vessels.