An analysis of blood flow in left atrium with MRI before and after PTMC

We analysed blood flow of the left atrium (LA) in patients with mitral stenosis (MS) using a 0.15T MRI. We used conventional spine echo image and flow rephasing method which is one of the new refocusing method. Fifteen patients with MS and 7 normal volunteers were evaluated. All patients with MS had high signal intensity in the LA. On the other hand, 7 normal volunteers had no increased signal intensity. Thirteen of 15 patients with MS were studied before and after percutaneous transvenous mitral commissurotomy (PTMC). Increased signal intensities in the LA were decreased after PTMC. Only one patient had indication for surgical treatment due to thromus in the LA. Anatomical changes of cardiac chamber in patients with MS before PTMC were easily recognized by MRI. MRI is a useful modality to examine patients with MS before and after PTMC, because it provides anatomical and blood flow relating information. (author)