Calcific fibrosing mediastinitis: demonstration of pulmonary vascular obstruction by magnetic resonance imaging

Two patients with pulmonary vascular obstruction caused by calcific fibrosing mediastinitis were evaluated with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The MRI findings were similar to those of computer tomographic (CT) studies performed to evaluate mediastinal and hilar masses observed on chest radiographs. But, because of high contrast between flowing blood and the vessel wall afforded by the spin-echo (SE) MRI technique, obstruction of the mediastinal vascular structures by the calcified fibrosing masses was demonstrated by MRI without the use of contrast media. Although CT provided better visualization of the calcified fibrotic masses, MRI had the advantage of no exposure to ionizing radiation and no need for exogenous contrast media.