[Gd-DTPA contrast enhancement in the nuclear magnetic resonance tomographic diagnosis of thoracic space-occupying lesions].

The optimal technique for examining mediastinal masses is the use of T1 weighted spin-echo sequences (TR 500 msec/TE 17 msec) in transverse and coronal slice orientation pre and post contrast application. This setup provides an excellent morphological depiction of anatomy and pathology as well as T2 comparable information about tumor structure without the disadvantage of a reduction of the signal-to-noise ratio.