USEFULNESS OF TURBO-FLASH DYNAMIC MR-IMAGING OF DISSECTING ANEURYSMS OF THE THORACIC AORTA

Purpose: We attempted to determine whether Turbo-FLASH dynamic magneti c resonance imaging is clinically useful for the diagnosis of dissecti ng aneurysm of the thoracic aorta by differentiating slow flow from th rombus in the false lumen. Methods: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) w as performed in ten patients using three different pulse sequences (sp in echo, cine and turbo-FLASH dynamic MRI). The three imaging techniqu es were compared for their ability to demonstrate anatomical and hemod ynamic abnormalities by visual assessment. Results: In all patients wi th thrombus in the false lumen, the thrombus was accurately differenti ated from slow flow on contrast enhanced turbo-FLASH dynamic MRI, but only with difficulty on spin echo and cine MRI. Dynamic MRI was also u seful for the evaluation of flow dynamics in the false lumen. Conclusi on: Turbo-FLASH dynamic MRI is recommended for patients with dissectin g aneurysm of the thoracic aorta, not definitely diagnosed by spin ech o and cine MRI.