Usefulness of saturation pulses in magnetic resonance imaging of partial anomalous pulmonary venous return.

Abstract

The authors evaluated partial anomalous pulmonary venous return by magnetic resonance (MR) images. Seven patients with this congenital anomaly underwent MR imaging examination. Conventional spin-echo and gradient-echo imaging were performed. In addition, during acquisition of gradient-echo images, saturation pulses were imposed on the affected lung. Spin-echo images showed the anatomical situation of the anomalous veins, and gradient-echo images revealed the blood flow in the veins. With saturation technique, the direction and drainage of blood flow in the anomalous veins were well defined. The study suggests that MR imaging with spin-echo method and gradient-echo method with or without saturation pulses is a useful and noninvasive method of diagnosing partial anomalous pulmonary venous return. MR images with spin- and gradient-echo methods were useful in defining the anatomical situation and blood flow in the anomalous veins. By imposing saturation pulses on the affected lung field, the direction and drainage of blood flow in the anomalous veins were clearly demonstrated.