Magnetic Resonance and Computed Tomography Imaging of the Structural and Functional Changes of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

The current Dana Point Classification system (2009) distinguishes elevation of pulmonary arterial pressure into pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and pulmonary hypertension. Fortunately, PAH is not a common disease. However, with the aging of the First World's population, heart failure has become an important outcome of pulmonary hypertension, with up to 9% of the population involved. PAH is usually asymptomatic until late in the disease process. Although features that are indirectly related to PAH are found on noninvasive imaging studies, its diagnosis and management still require right heart catheterization. Imaging features of PAH include the following: (1) enlargement of the pulmonary trunk and main pulmonary arteries; (2) decreased pulmonary arterial compliance; (3) tapering of the peripheral pulmonary arteries; (4) enlargement of the inferior vena cava; and (5) increased mean transit time. The chronic requirement to generate high pulmonary arterial pressure measurably affects the right heart and main pulmonary artery. This change in physiology causes the following structural and functional alterations that have been shown to have prognostic significance: relative area change (RAC) of the pulmonary trunk, right ventricular stroke volume index, right ventricular stroke volume, right ventricular end-diastolic volume index, left ventricular end-diastolic volume index, and baseline right ventricular ejection fraction <35%. All of these variables can be quantified noninvasively and followed up longitudinally in each patient using magnetic resonance imaging to modify the treatment regimen. Untreated PAH frequently results in rapid clinical decline and death within 3 years of diagnosis. Unfortunately, even with treatment, fewer than half of these patients are alive at 4 years.