Pediatric thoracic applications of magnetic resonance imaging.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the newest and most promising imaging modality for evaluating the pediatric thorax. Its ability to distinguish between mediastinal fat, blood vessels, and adjacent soft tissues, without the use of intravenous contrast agents or radiation, makes MRI advantageous for infants and children. The thoracic applications include evaluations of cardiac anomalies, mediastinal masses, extracardiac vascular anomalies, airway obstruction, and chest-wall lesions. This article describes the current and possible future applications of MRI of the pediatric thorax.