SINGLE BREATH-HOLDING 3-DIMENSIONAL MAGNETIC-RESONANCE PORTOGRAPHY WITH BOLUS INJECTION OF GD-DTPA IN SUBJECTS WITH NORMAL LIVER - A COMPARISON WITH 2-DIMENSIONAL TIME-OF-FLIGHT TECHNIQUE

Two-dimensional time-of-flight (2D-TOF) magnetic resonance (MR) portog raphy tends to produce general image degradation owing to the phase di screpancy caused by multiple breath-holding. To solve this problem, th ree-dimensional (3D)-MR portographies were reconstructed from image da ta acquired with a bolus injection of Gd-DTPA with single breath-holdi ng in 20 subjects with normal liver function. 2D-TOF MR portographies were obtained beforehand for the comparison. All the images were displ ayed in a cine mode for the two MR angiographic techniques. Visualizat ion was assessed as positive when the vessel was visualized without di sruption. 3D-MR portography produced a positive rate of over 80% for a ll but the left first-order branch. With the 2D-TOF techniques, howeve r, only the portal trunk and left second-order branches were visualize d at this rate. The positive rate for most portal branches was signifi cantly higher with 3D-MR portography than with the 2D-TOF technique. I n conclusion, 3D-MR portography makes it possible to depict the portal venous system without disruption using a short measurement time with single breath-holding and has the potential to become a powerful metho d for abdominal MR angiography.