Fig. 9

Breath-hold 3D uSSFP in two different patients. Top row Non-contrast images in a patient with a benign mediastinal cyst (*). Left: 2D bSSFP; right 3D uSSFP. In the 2D bSSFP image, the cyst is difficult to distinguish from the adjacent, nearly isointense brachiocephalic vein, aortic arch, and branch vessels, but is easily visualized with 3D uSSFP due to the low blood pool signals. Bottom row Postcontrast images in a patient with a necrotic, biopsy-proven non-small cell lung cancer (red arrows). Left: CT; middle: 3D uSSFP; right: VIBE. Since the 3D uSSFP images were obtained after contrast administration, the blood pool appears gray rather than black. Nonetheless, 3D uSSFP better demonstrates the tumor spiculations and provides higher contrast between the tumor and cardiovascular structures than VIBE