[Important of magnetic resonance angiography with gadolinium injection in pulmonary vein diseases].

Abstract

The study of the pulmonary veins by echocardiography is sometimes difficult especially when the ultrasonic window is restricted. Conventional angiography is the classic reference examination but it exposes the patient to ionising radiation and requires the injection of an iodine contrast product. Another technique that can provide the essential information is magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) with injection of gadolinium. It was performed in 9 patients for suspected congenital or acquired anomalies of the pulmonary veins between June 1999 and December 2001. The patient's ages varied from 1 month to 10 years. The examinations were carried out on a 1.5 T Vision machine (Siemens, Erlangen, Germany) without "cardiac gating" or apnoea after parental consent. MRA with gadolinium injection showed 5 drainage anomalies (3 partial pulmonary venous refluxes in the superior vena cava, 2 scimitar syndromes) and 3 stenoses (one due to compression by an aneurysm of the left pulmonary artery, a second secondary to pericardial agenesis, and a third secondary to hypoplasia of an isolated vein). MRA allowed three dimensional visualisation of these anomalies. This is a rapid, non-invasive and certain imaging technique which does not expose the patient to ionising radiation. It is therefore of significance in the investigation of anomalies of the pulmonary veins complementing echocardiography, and could in future replace cardiac catheterisation.

• Authors: F Godart, B Cocheteux, S Willoteaux, Ch Francart, G M Brevière, S Jaillard, J P Beregi, Ch Rey
• Journal: Archives des maladies du coeur et des vaisseaux (Arch Mal Coeur Vaiss) Vol. 95 Issue 5 Pg. 433-7 (May 2002) ISSN: 0003-9683 [Print] France
• Vernacular Title: Intérêt de l'angiographie par résonance magnétique avec injection de gadolinium dans le bilan des pathologies des veines pulmonaires.
• PMID: 12085741 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, English Abstract, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Gadolinium

Topics

• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Female
• Gadolinium
• Humans
• Imaging, Three-Dimensional
• Infant
• Magnetic Resonance Angiography
• Male
• Pulmonary Veins (abnormalities)
• Vascular Diseases (diagnosis)