Diagnosis of pulmonary hemosiderosis by MR imaging

We present a case of IPH in which MR imaging of pulmonary parenchymal hemosiderin showed a preferential T2 shortening by paramagnetic ferric iron similar to that occurring in evolving intracranial hematomas. This noninvasive diagnosis allowed initiation of therapy and stabilization of the patient's cardiorespiratory status before lung biopsy. We suggest that in patients whose radiographic and clinical presentations suggest IPH, the MR findings permit sufficient diagnostic confidence to defer invasive maneuvers until the patient is clinically stable.