PURPOSE: To assess the accuracy and potential of magnetic resonance (M
R) imaging in evaluation of patients in whom pulmonary embolism is sus
pected. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Blinded, prospective interpretations of
multiphasic, cardiac-gated spin-echo MR images were compared with ret
rospective 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-perfus
ion (V-P) scans and concurrent clinical impression (n = 30).