Purpose: Our goal was to assess the MR appearance and histologic correlation of primary pulmonary artery angiosarcoma.
Method: Four patients with tumorous masses in the pulmonary arteries were evaluated by dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI using T1- and T2-weighted SE images, GE images, as well as coronal 3D MRA in breath-hold technique. The percentage of tumor enhancement was determined by measuring regions of interest before and after Gd-DTPA administration on the 2D multiplanar spoiled GRE images.
Results: All four masses showed some contrast enhancement on the dynamically acquired GRE images. The degree of contrast enhancement correlated with the degree of tumor differentiation, content of myxoid matrix, and associated thrombus. Contrast-enhanced 3D MRA was useful for preoperative delineation of the peripheral pulmonary arteries to the subsegmental order.
Conclusion: Dynamic contrast-enhanced 3D MRA of the pulmonary arteries can be used to delineate pulmonary arterial angiosarcomas preoperatively. Considerable variability of contrast agent uptake reflects the wide histologic behavior of these masses in differentiation from central pulmonary embolism.