Abstract
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the abdomen may include lower chest findings which may be overlooked or misinterpreted due to their location outside the area of main exam focus or lack of familiarity with the image appearance of these findings. This article will review the utility of abdominal MRI sequences to diagnose lower chest pathology while providing a systematic pictorial review of imaging findings in the lungs, pleura, mediastinum and chest wall. We will discuss the MRI appearance of lung nodules and masses, lung infiltrates, pulmonary infarction, pulmonary embolism, empyema, pleural effusions and thickening, mediastinal lesions and lymphadenopathy, cardiac thrombus and masses, and breast lesions. The purpose of this article is to increase awareness to the diagnostic advantages of abdominal MRI sequences for lower chest findings and encourage abdominal MRI readers to meticulous scrutinize the lower chest for concomitant pathology.
•Delayed T1W 3D-GRE post contrast is valuable in assessment of lung nodules, pleural thickening, and vascular patency•Large field of view coronal T1W 3D-GRE delayed enhanced images may show chest abnormalities that not included on axial images•Coronal delayed enhanced images may detect lung nodules, central pulmonary embolism, hilar lymphadenopathy, and spine lesion•DWI increases conspicuity of lesions, particularly in malignant pleural thickening and lung nodules•T2W detects lung abnormal signal; detect and characterize pleural effusion, mediastinal lesions, and breast lesions