[Lymph node imaging with ultra-rapid 3D MR angiography].

Purpose: A report on observations of lymph node images obtained by gadolinium-enhanced 3D MR angiography (MRA).

Methods: Ultrarapid MRA (TR, TE, FA-5 or 6.4 ms, 1.9 or 2.8 ms, 30-40 degrees) with 0.2 mmol/kg BW Gd-DTPA and 20 ml physiological saline. Start after completion of injection. Single series of the pelvis-thigh as well as head-neck regions by use of a phased array coil with a 1.5 T Magnetom Vision or a 1.0 T Magnetom Harmony (Siemens, Erlangen). We report on lymph node imaging in 4 patients, 2 of whom exhibited benign changes and 2 further metastases. In 1 patient with extensive lymph node metastases of a malignant melanoma, color-Doppler sonography as color-flow angiography (CFA) was used as a comparative method.

Results: Lymph node imaging by contrast medium-enhanced ultrarapid 3D MRA apparently resulted from their vessels. Thus, arterially-supplied metastases and inflammatory enlarged lymph nodes were well visualized while those with a.v. shunts or poor vascular supply in tumor necroses were poorly imaged.

Conclusions: Further investigations are required with regard to the visualization of lymph nodes in other parts of the body as well as a possible differentiation between benign and malignant lesions.