Cardiac calcifications: difficult MRI diagnosis

Magn Reson Imaging. 1991;9(2):195-200. doi: 10.1016/0730-725x(91)90010-j.

Abstract

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) were performed in 40 patients with a variety of cardiovascular diseases. These imaging modalities were compared to investigate their relative value in the assessment of cardiovascular diseases. Of these 40 patients, 7 were found by CT to have detectable cardiovascular calcifications. These patients included one calcified mitral stenosis, one calcified coronary artery, one calcified type B aortic dissection, two calcified myocardial infarctions, and two patients with calcific pericarditis. In several cases, MRI was misleading because of difficulty in detecting calcifications. We present a series of cases illustrating a limitation of MRI in identifying diagnostically and clinically important cardiovascular calcifications.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aortic Aneurysm / complications
  • Calcinosis / diagnosis*
  • Calcinosis / diagnostic imaging
  • Calcinosis / etiology
  • Cardiomyopathies / diagnosis
  • Female
  • Heart / diagnostic imaging
  • Heart Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Heart Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Myocardial Infarction / complications
  • Myocardium / pathology
  • Pericarditis, Tuberculous / complications
  • Radionuclide Imaging
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed