Whole body nuclear magnetic resonance imaging at 0.35 T successfully delineated cardiovascular anatomy and intraluminal pathology, including aortic dissection and aneurysms, in 244 subjects.
Observational (n=244)
Can nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging effectively evaluate normal and pathologic cardiovascular findings in volunteers and patients?
Early clinical experience demonstrates the considerable potential of NMR (MRI) imaging for evaluating cardiovascular anatomy and pathology.
Whole body nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging of the cardiovascular system was carried out in early clinical trials in 244 volunteers and patients using a 3.5 KGauss (0.35 T) unit. The spin echo technique with multiple imaging parameters was used. Blood vessels were clearly discriminated from solid organs and lesions because little or no intraluminal signal is seen with laminar blood flow at normal velocities, whereas a more intense image is generated by solid organs. Characteristic flow signals were observed in normal patients and were accentuated by varying the imaging parameters. Cardiac chambers were well delineated in some patients on nongated images. In one case, internal topography of the ventricles was exquisitely displayed on a gated image. Intraluminal pathology, such as dissection of the aorta, aneurysms of the aorta and left ventricle, and aortic atheroma, was clearly demonstrated. Patency of coronary arterial bypass grafts was shown. Abnormal flow patterns due to slow or turbulent flow were accentuated on images using the second spin echo. This preliminary experience indicates the considerable potential of NMR imaging in the evaluation of cardiovascular diseases.
Herfkens et al. (1983) conducted an observational in Cardiovascular diseases (n=244). Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging was evaluated on Visualization of cardiovascular anatomy, flow signals, and intraluminal pathology. Whole body nuclear magnetic resonance imaging at 0.35 T successfully delineated cardiovascular anatomy and intraluminal pathology, including aortic dissection and aneurysms, in 244 subjects.