MRI Manifestations of Progressive Massive Fibrosis in Patients with Coal Workers' Pneumoconiosis / 中国医学影像学杂志

ABSTRACT

PurposeTo explore MRI manifestations and diagnostic value of progressive massive fibrosis (PMF) in patient with coal workers' pneumoconiosis. Materials and Methods Twenty-four patients with PMF coal workers' pneumoconiosis underwent conventional MRI including T1WI, T2WI and SPIR. The signal intensity and morphological changes were analyzed.Results In 24 patients, there were 16 cases with bilateral pulmonary lesions and 8 cases with unilateral lesions. PMF was located in the upper lung field in 11 cases and in the upper and middle lung fields in 13 cases. The morphology of the lesions was stripe, round or irregular in shape. PMF were mainly isointense on T1WI, similar to adjacent soft tissue, and heterogeneous iso- or hypointense on T2WI and SPIR with patchy or stripe-like hypointensity.Conclusion PMF of coal workers' pneumoconiosis appears as a mass with iso- or hypointensity on T2WI and SPIR, with characteristic patchy-or stripe-like hypointensity. MRI is helpful in diagnosing PMF.