Cine MR imaging for evaluation of cardiovascular invasion in bronchogenic carcinoma and mediastinal tumor

This paper evaluates the usefulness of cine MR imaging for the diagnosis of direct cardiovascular invasion in bronchogenic carcinomas and mediastinal tumors. In 22 patients, 15 with bronchogenic carcinomas and seven with mediastinal tumors, direct cardiovascular invasion was suggested by dynamic CT scans and gated MR images. Cine MR images were obtained following gated MR and compared with surgical findings. Image planes of the cine were perpendicular to the interface between the tumor and the adjacent cardiovascular structures. Direct invasion was considered absent when bandlike low-signal interface appeared between these structures during cardiac motion. LA and RA invasion were suspected in nine patients. Tumors of three patients in whom low-signal interface was detected only with cine MR imaging could be resected surgically. Pericardial invasion was found in two, but no obvious cardiac invasion resulting in unresectable thoracotomy was noted. Main PA invasion was suspected in three patients; direct invasion could be ruled out in two of them mainly based on cine MR findings