The Clinical Usefulness of Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Lung Cancer

Sixty patients with lung cancer, including 35 operated cases and 4 autopsy cases, were studied by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Transverse and coronal imaging were performed by spin-echo sequence with electrocardiogram gating. MRI clearly demonstrated the normal mediastinal and hilar structures. More than 90% of pulmonary vessels and lobar bronchi were identified. Seventy six percent of mediastinal and hilar lymph nodes shown on resected materials to be over than 1 cm in diameter were detected, as compared to 82% for hilar nodes alone. Staging for T factor, tumor size were fairly accurate but P factor was correctly diagnosed of 64%. In atelectasis, the pulmonary artery was presented as a linear structure, and this finding has not been reported yet. Our experience suggests that MRI is useful for the diagnosis of atelectasis, vascular involvement, and hilar lymphadenopathy.