Pulmonary vein and left atrial invasion by lung cancer: assessment by breath-hold gadolinium-enhanced three-dimensional MR angiography.

Abstract

The purpose of this work was to evaluate the ability of breath-hold gadolinium-enhanced three-dimensional (3D) MR angiography to assess the invasion of the pulmonary vein and the left atrium by lung cancer. Gadolinium-enhanced 3D MR angiography was performed in 20 consecutive patients with lung cancer. At two sites with left atrial invasion shown by MR angiography, associated partial resection of the left atrium was performed. At five sites with invasion of the proximal pulmonary vein within 1.5 cm from the left atrium on MR, partial resection of the left atrium was performed at one site, and the pulmonary vein was resected at the intrapericardial portion at three sites. At two sites with invasion of the proximal pulmonary vein 1.5 cm more distal to the left atrium, the pulmonary vein was resected at the extrapericardial portion. Breath-hold gadolinium-enhanced 3D MR angiography is suitable for assessing invasion of the pulmonary vein and the left atrium by lung cancer.