Usefulness of Turbo-FLASH dynamic MR imaging of dissecting aneurysms of the thoracic aorta

✍ Scribed by Seiji Tomiguchi; Shoji Morishita; Rumi Nakashima; Masafumi Hara; Yoichi Oyama; Akihiro Kojima; Mutsumasa Takahashi

• Publisher: Springer
• Year: 1994
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 495 KB
• Volume: 17
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1432-086X
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00197909

✦ Synopsis

Purpose:

We attempted to determine whether Turbo-FLASH dynamic magnetic resonance imaging is clinically useful for the diagnosis of dissecting aneurysm of the thoracic aorta by differentiating slow flow from thrombus in the false lumen.

Methods: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed in ten patients using three different pulse sequences (spin echo, cine and turbo-FLASH dynamic MRI). The three imaging techniques were compared for their ability to demonstrate anatomical and hemodynamic abnormalities by visual assessment.

Results: In all patients with thrombus in the false lumen, the thrombus was accurately differentiated from slow flow on contrast enhanced turbo-FLASH dynamic MRI, but only with difficulty on spin echo and cine MRI. Dynamic MRI was also useful for the evaluation of flow dynamics in the false lumen.

Conclusion:

Turbo-FLASH dynamic MRI is recommended for patients with dissecting aneurysm of the thoracic aorta, not definitely diagnosed by spin echo and cine MRI.