MR-IMAGING OF THE THORACIC AORTA - COMPARISON OF SPIN-ECHO, ANGIOGRAPHIC, AND BREATH-HOLD TECHNIQUES

PURPOSE: To compare magnetic resonance (MR) angiography and fast MR imaging with spin-echo (SE) and non-MR imaging techniques in examination of the thoracic aorta. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty-nine patients underwent breath-hold or cine MR angiography; SE was used in 67 patients and fast MR imaging in 28. A comparison was made with non-MR imaging (transthoracic echocardiography in 49 patients, transesophageal echocardiography in 18, and arteriography in 33) findings and those from surgery or autopsy (16 patients). RESULTS: MR angiography enabled differentiation of slow flow from thrombus, demonstrated aortic valve anatomy and aortic regurgitation, and accurately showed anatomy with only one error. It demonstrated two communications, flaps, and three branch stenoses better than SE, which produced some artifacts that mimicked thrombus or flaps. Fast MR imaging often produced artifacts or poor image quality (10 of 28 patients). CONCLUSlON: Compared with SE MR imaging, MR angiography provides additional useful anatomic and functional information concerning diseases of the thoracic aorta, usually gained only with echocardiography or arteriography.