DETECTION OF MYCOTIC PSEUDOANEURYSM OF THE ASCENDING AORTA USING MRI

Mycotic pseudoaneurysms of the ascending aorta are rare cardiovascular lesions that carry the risk of potentially disastrous complications s uch as aortic rupture or widespread sepsis. Regardless of its location in the arterial system, this lesion carries a high mortality rate. Ea rly diagnosis of mycotic pseudoaneurysm is paramount for optimizing th e chances of surgical therapy. While imaging strategies of this lesion have included aortography, echocardiography, and computed tomography, the information gained from each of these individual studies may be a cquired in a single MR imaging session. MRI offers the fundamental adv antages of noninvasiveness, nonionization, and multiplanar imaging cap abilities. Additionally, MRI provides excellent soft tissue contrast, a wide field of view, qualitative and quantitative flow analysis, and an independence of operator expertise or patient body habitus.