MR Imaging of Aortic Diseases

Park, Jae Hyung; Park, Kil Sun; Han, Joon Koo; Chung, Jin Uk; Im, Jung Gi; Han, Man Chung

Abstract

MR imaging was performed in 40 patients of aortic disease from March 1988 to February 1990. Transverse, coronal and oblique sagital views were obtained with ECG gating and even echo technique using 0.5 T and 2.0 T MR systems. In 12 patients of aortic aneurysm, the location, the size and the extent of aneurysm could be assessed in all cases. In the cases of six abdominal aortic aneurysm, the relation of aneurysm to renal arteries was evaluated. In 18 cases of aortic dissection, the extent of involvement as well as associated abnormalities was well evaluated in all cases. In the 8 cases of congenital aortic anomalies, the vascular anatomy was well demonstrated. However, the abnormalities of major branches could not be assessed with MR imaging especially in 2 cases of Takayasu's arteritis. With our experiences, MR imaging is regarded as a primary diagnostic modality for aortic disease and expected to be developed as the alternative measure to the angiography in the future.