Magnetic resonance imaging of the pericardium: normal and pathologic findings

Journal Article · Wed Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 1984 · Radiology; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1148/radiology.150.2.6691103· OSTI ID:5326320

Stark, D D; Higgins, C B; Lanzer, P; Lipton, M J; Schiller, N; Crooks, L E; Botvinick, E B; Kaufman, L

Twenty normal subjects and ten patients with pericardial abnormalities underwent ECG-gated magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the thorax using a 0.35-tesla superconducting system. The patients with pericardial abnormalities were also evaluated with serial chest radiography, ultrasound, computed tomography, and/or angiography. ECG gating was necessary to identify the normal pericardium, which was visualized as a 1- to 2-mm-wide curvilinear structure of low signal intensity. Pericardial thickening in constrictive pericarditis was clearly delineated on gated MR images. Pericardial inflammation caused a marked increase in signal intensity as well as thickening of the pericardium. Pericardial effusions and pericardial adhesions were also demonstrated. A simple pericardial cyst and a complex pericardial mass were identified and differentiated from pericardial fat and diaphragmatic eventration. MR appears to be an important modality for the evaluation of pericardial disease.

• Research Organization: Univ. of California, San Francisco
• OSTI ID: 5326320
• Journal Information: Radiology; (United States), Vol. 150:2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
INFLAMMATION
DIAGNOSIS
NEOPLASMS
PERICARDIUM
BIOMEDICAL RADIOGRAPHY
COMPUTERIZED TOMOGRAPHY
NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE
ULTRASONOGRAPHY
BLOOD VESSELS
PATHOLOGY
PATIENTS
BODY
CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
DISEASES
HEART
MAGNETIC RESONANCE
MEDICINE
MEMBRANES
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ORGANS
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
RADIOLOGY
RESONANCE
SEROUS MEMBRANES
SYMPTOMS
TOMOGRAPHY
550602* - Medicine- External Radiation in Diagnostics- (1980-)
550900 - Pathology