3-DIMENSIONAL MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING EVALUATION OF PEDIATRIC TRACHEOBRONCHIAL TREE

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the airway has recently emerged as a diagnostic tool for evaluating tracheobronchial obstruction in pedi atric patients. Computer-assisted reconstructions of transaxial images have enabled three-dimensional reconstructions of the airway to be ma nipulated in any plane and visualized in relation to adjacent anatomic al structures. Eight patients in whom magnetic resonance imaging was u sed to diagnose a variety of airway obstructive lesions are presented, A protocol for the evaluation of pediatric tracheobronchial obstructi on is presented, with the role of three dimensionally reconstructed MR imaging emphasized.