A case of sclerosing hemangioma of the lung: correlation of MR images with pathological findings.

The authors present a case of sclerosing hemangioma of the lung in which MRI was performed. The tumor had areas of various signal intensities on both T1- and T2-weighted images, including high-intensity areas and isointensity areas relative to muscle. We compared the signal intensity of the tumor with its pathological findings. The relatively high signal intensity of the tumor on T1-weighted images was thought to be a reflection of lipids of clear cells, and the isointensity relative to muscle on T1-weighted images to be a reflection of fibrosis. Hyperintensity was also seen on both T1- and T2-weighted images, and was intralesional hemorrhage. Use of Gd-DTPA strongly enhanced the tumor. This enhancement was thought to be abundant blood cavities, since not many capillaries were seen in the specimen. The signal intensity of the tumor corresponded closely to the pathognomonic findings, and it is thought that MRI may be helpful in diagnosing sclerosing hemangioma of the lung because of its high contrast resolution.