EVALUATION OF BLOOD-FLOW PATTERNS OF TRUE AND FALSE LUMENS IN DISSECTING ANEURYSMS USING MR PHASE-CONTRAST TECHNIQUES

The magnetic resonance phase-contrast technique for the measurement of flow velocity and volume in true and false lumens was studied in six patients with chronic dissecting aneurysms. Phase-contrast images were obtained at a level perpendicular to the dissecting aneurysms of the descending aorta, As the maximum diameter of aneurysms increased, the ratio of the cross-sectional area of the false to the true lumen incre ased and the peak average velocity in the true lumen during systole wa s decreased. This technique proved invaluable for determining prognosi s and operability for this condition. (C) Elsevier Science Inc., 1998.