文摘
Radiation intensive computed tomography (CT) is the standard reference method for many clinical pulmonary indications; however, a number of technical innovations including rapid acquisition of t2-weighted sequences, respiratory gating and elimination of motion artifacts have greatly improved magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) thus enabling sufficient imaging of the thoracic organs. In particular, patients with bronchiectasis and chronic consolidations, pneumonia or abnormalities of the mediastinum and the chest wall can be successfully evaluated with MRI. Using MRI radiation exposure can be markedly reduced especially in children and young adults; however, MRI shows lower sensitivity in the depiction of interstitial lung abnormalities, emphysema and small pulmonary nodules. Further disadvantages are that MRI makes greater demands on logistics and is more time-consuming thus determining the need for medical sedation in pediatric patients. Keywords Diagnostic imaging Lung Cystic fibrosis Arterial spin labeling Mediastinum