MRI of the Chest

Abstract

An excellent soft tissue contrast and the capacity to produce cross-sectional images or three-dimensional data sets in any orientation designate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as an ideal tool to evaluate chest wall masses or tumors of the mediastinum. However, traditionally, MRI of the lung was limited because of the combination of motion artifacts of both lungs and heart and the low number of protons. Furthermore, the susceptibility artifacts as a result of the interface of air and soft tissues were hampering efforts to perform MRI in the lungs. More recently, the development of fast (breath-hold) sequences, introduction of novel contrast agents and contrast mechanisms, has caused chest MRI to gain ground in the imaging of an increasing range of chest pathologies. As X-ray and computed tomography (CT) are increasingly criticized for the associated radiation exposure, particularly when applied for frequent follow-up examinations, during pregnancy, in children, and in clinical trials, a noninvasive method lacking ionizing radiation is desirable. In this chapter, we present the technical requirements, a comprehensive routine protocol, current clinical indications, and ongoing developments of chest MRI.