Contrast-enhanced pulmonary MR angiography using swirl sampling and visual prep trigger

Pulmonary MR angiography using swirl sampling and visual prep trigger was performed to evaluate the vascular delineation and diagnostic capability for pulmonary vascular lesions. Sixteen patients were examined; 10 lung cancer, 5 pulmonary thromboembolism and 1 pulmonary hypertension. All experiments were performed using a 1.5 T MR system (VISART/EX; Toshiba, Japan) and 3D-FFE was applied within a single breathhold with administration of Gd-DTPA. This method allowed good depiction of pulmonary arteries including subsegmental branches without or with a slight delineation of pulmonary veins. In particular, the visualization of vessels in left lobe adjacent to heart was improved because of no enhancement of left ventricle of the heart. This MRA technique that provides diagnostic findings and decreases technical failures is evaluated to be clinically useful. (author)