TIME-OF-FLIGHT MR-ANGIOGRAPHY OF THE PORTAL VENOUS SYSTEM - VALUE COMPARED WITH OTHER IMAGING PROCEDURES

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively compare tw o-dimensional time-of-flight MR angiography with other imaging procedu res in the evaluation of the portal venous system in 152 consecutive p atients. MATERIALS AND METHODS. The findings on MR angiography perform ed on 152 patients to depict portal venous disease were analyzed. Imag ing was done at 1 T using multiplanar breath-hold, two-dimensional tim e of flight MR angiography, Selective arterial presaturation, bolus tr acking, and three-dimensional reconstruction were used routinely, Find ings were correlated with findings on sonography (104 patients), CT (8 patients), and conventional digital subtraction angiography (19 patie nts) as well as surgery (23 patients). RESULTS. Agreement between resu lts of MR angiography and alternative types of imaging was excellent ( 99%). Agreement with sonography (100 of 104), CT (8 of 8), conventiona l angiography (18 of 19), and surgery (23 of 23) was good. Visualizati on of varices and spontaneous shunts by MR angiography was superior to that by other imaging techniques. CONCLUSION. Our experience shows th at time-of-flight MR angiography is reliable and accurate for depictin g portal venous anatomy, MR angiography shows vessels that are not vis ible with sonography. Complicated pathology is clearly visualized in a way that is not possible with other techniques.