MR imaging in pediatric airway obstruction.

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the trachea was performed in 27 children with congenital tracheal narrowing. The diagnoses included aortic arch anomalies (n = 7), innominate artery compression (n = 13), pulmonary artery compression (n = 5), and tracheomalacia (n = 2). Demonstration of the trachea and the surrounding tissue and vessels on MR images allowed the evaluation of the cause of tracheal compression and the degree and location of collapse. Patients were examined with MR imaging if the cause of airway obstruction was still unclear after bronchoscopy. It is concluded that MR imaging is a well suited modality for characterizing tracheal narrowing without using ionizing radiation or intravenous contrast medium.