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Magnetic resonance imaging of acute pulmonary embolism

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Abstract

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a very common and potentially life-threatening disease. In comparison with CT, the clinical relevance of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the assessment of PE is low. Nevertheless, as there are some potential advantages of MRI over CT (e.g. radiation free method, better safety profile of MR contrast media, capability of functional imaging). In certain patient, groups MRI might therefore be considered as a valuable alternative in the assessment of suspected PE. This article reviews the relevant MRI techniques for the evaluation of PE and gives an overview of the current literature for contrast-enhanced MR angiography of PE.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Radiology, University Hospital Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim-University of Heidelberg, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167, Mannheim, Germany

    Christian Fink & Stefan O. Schoenberg

  2. Department of Clinical Radiology, University Hospitals Grosshadern, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Marchionistr 15, 81377, Munich, Germany

    Maximilian F. Reiser

  3. Department of Radiology, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, Heidelberg, Germany

    Sebastian Ley & H. U. Kauczor

Authors
  1. Christian Fink
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  2. Sebastian Ley
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  3. Stefan O. Schoenberg
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  4. Maximilian F. Reiser
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  5. H. U. Kauczor
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Correspondence to Christian Fink.

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Fink, C., Ley, S., Schoenberg, S.O. et al. Magnetic resonance imaging of acute pulmonary embolism. Eur Radiol 17, 2546–2553 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-007-0664-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-007-0664-4

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