[Magnetic resonance tomography in the diagnosis of aneurysm and coarctation of the thoracic aorta].

MR-tomography (MRT) was performed in 25 patients with aneurysms and in 11 with coarctation of the thoracic aorta. For investigations a device with a resistive magnet (the force of a field--0.23 T) was used simultaneously with ECG. MRT revealed all cases of aortic dissection (10 patients) and one case with a false-positive result. Oblique sections in the direction of the thoracic aorta were used to assess the state of the aortic arch branches. Comparison of MRT and x-ray computerized tomography has shown that the diagnostic value of both methods was almost equal, however MRT was a safer method and easier to use. MRT was shown to be a method of choice for diagnosis of aneurysms and coarctations of the thoracic aorta but cannot be a substitution for aortography.