MR Imaging/Magnetic Resonance Angiography of the Pulmonary Arteries and Pulmonary Thromboembolic Disease

Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) of the pulmonary arteries still is a rapidly evolving technique with already proved high clinical usefulness. Contrast-enhanced and non-contrast-enhanced angiographic techniques are widely available for high spatial or real-time imaging of the pulmonary arteries. Multiple step protocols, such as perfusion MR imaging followed by high spatial resolution contrast-enhanced MRA, seem to be an optimal clinical approach for the assessment of different vascular diseases affecting the pulmonary arteries. This review article describes the MR imaging techniques available and their application in acute and chronic thromboembolic disease.