Magnetic resonance imaging of the heart

Magnetic resonance (MR) has noninvasively imaged the proximal coronary arteries, areas of infarction, and a variety of congenital heart lesions. Further technical improvement may extend cardiac MR from the realm of research to clinical utility.

Gated magnetic resonance imaging of the normal and diseased heart

Gated cardiac magnetic resonance (MR) images were obtained in two normal volunteers and 21 adults with a variety of cardiovascular abnormalities. The images were correlated with data from clinical examinations, electrocardiograms, and cardiac catheterization. Gated cardiac images were superior to nongated images. Combined cardiac and respiratory gated images were superior to images obtained with cardiac gating only, but acquisition time was longer. Portions of the coronary arteries were visualized in seven of 23 examinations (30%), and subacute and old myocardial infarcts were seen in five of nine patients (55%) as areas of thinned myocardium. No signal changes were observed in the patients with subacute infarctions or the patient with myocarditis. Coronary atherosclerotic lesions were not visualized in any of the patients. Normal cardiac anatomy (chambers, valves, and papillary muscles) was well visualized. Examples of aortic stenosis and atherosclerosis of the abdominal aorta are shown.

Computed tomography of diverticulitis

Computed tomography (CT) is capable of imaging diverticulitis of the colon. Localized wall thickening, soft tissue density in the pericolic fat, and large soft tissue masses that may or may not contain gas have been observed in diverticulitis. Because of its noninvasive nature, CT may have an advantage in the acute phase of diverticulitis when there may be reluctance to do a barium enema. More experience will be needed to see if CT will be predictive of a need for surgery.

Preliminary experimental results in humans and animals with a superconducting, whole-body, nuclear magnetic resonance scanner

In order to determine the clinical usefulness of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging, the investigators examined a variety of normal volunteers, patients with neoplastic lesions, and experimental animals. Preliminary results were obtained with the use of potential contrast agents. It was found that imaging applications of NMR in the vascular system, spine, brain, lung, and mediastinum offer certain advantages over other modalities. The absence of biological hazard as well as the ability to obtain unenhanced, noninvasive, gated images of the vascular system, as demonstrated in this study, make NMR particularly attractive. In addition to single-section capability, NMR makes it possible to obtain volume images of the spine and other organs which can be displayed in any desired plane or section thickness.