ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of a combined magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) - magnetic resonance venography (MRV) protocol using contrast agents with blood pool properties, gadofosveset trisodium and gadobenate dimeglumine, in the evaluation of pulmonary embolus (PE) and deep venous thrombosis (DVT) as compared to the standard clinical reference imaging modalities; computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) and color-coded Duplex ultrasound (DUS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective clinical study recruited patients presenting to the emergency department with clinical suspicion for PE and scheduled for a clinically indicated CTPA. We performed both MRA of the chest for the evaluation of PE as well as MRV of the pelvis and thighs to evaluate for DVT using a single contrast injection. MRA-MRV data was compared to the clinical reference standard CTPA and DUS, respectively. RESULTS: A total of 40 patients were recruited. The results on a per-patient basis comparing MRA to CTPA for pulmonary embolus yielded 100% sensitivity and 97% specificity. There was a small subset of patients that underwent clinical DUS to evaluate for DVT, which demonstrated a sensitivity and specificity of 100% for MRV. CONCLUSIONS: This single-center, preliminary study using contrast agents with blood pool properties to perform a relatively rapid combined MRA-MRV exam to image for PE and above knee DVT shows potential as an alternative imaging choice to CTPA. Further large-scale, multicentre studies are warranted.
Subject(s)
Pulmonary Embolism/diagnosis , Venous Thrombosis/diagnosis , Adult , Computed Tomography Angiography/methods , Contrast Media , Feasibility Studies , Female , Gadolinium , Humans , Magnetic Resonance Angiography/methods , Male , Meglumine/analogs & derivatives , Middle Aged , Organometallic Compounds , Pelvis , Phlebography/methods , Prospective Studies , Radiation Exposure/prevention & control , Sensitivity and Specificity , ThoraxABSTRACT
During the past decade, cardiac magnetic resonance has gained increasing popularity in the diagnosis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy because of its greater accuracy and better characterization of cardiac morphology compared with other imaging modalities. In this pictorial essay, a global clinical portrait of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy will be drawn. The various radiologic findings associated with each variant of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and the clinical edge offered by cardiac magnetic resonance will be discussed.
Subject(s)
Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular/diagnosis , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Diagnosis, Differential , Echocardiography , Gadolinium , Humans , Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular/classification , Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular/physiopathology , Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular/therapy , Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methodsABSTRACT
This article reviews the basic and clinical features of heart disease associated with carcinoid syndrome, with an emphasis on its principal imaging modalities.
Subject(s)
Carcinoid Heart Disease/diagnosis , Diagnostic Imaging , Contrast Media , Diagnosis, Differential , HumansABSTRACT
This case report is a unique presentation of a new potential indication for Gadofosvest (Ablavar), a blood pool contrast agent for magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). Ablavar is an excellent MRA contrast agent because it provides optimal contrast opacification of both the arterial and venous system, unlike the conventional extracellular agents that are used for arterial imaging only. The present case report demonstrates the ability of Ablavar to demonstrate pulmonary arteriovenous malformation (AVM), showing both its arterial feeders as well as its venous drainage tract.
