PULMONARY-EMBOLISM - COMPARISON OF MR-IMAGES WITH RADIONUCLIDE AND ANGIOGRAPHIC STUDIES

PURPOSE: To assess the accuracy and potential of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in evaluation of patients in whom pulmonary embolism is suspected. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Blinded, prospective interpretations of multiphasic, cardiac-gated spin-echo MR images were compared with retrospective chart review in 86 patients in whom pulmonary embolism was suspected. In 64 patients, the presence or absence of pulmonary emboli was established with x-ray angiography (n = 34) or ventilation-perfusion (V-P) scans and concurrent clinical impression (n = 30).