2-DIMENSIONAL TIME-OF-FLIGHT MAGNETIC-RESONANCE ANGIOGRAPHY IN THE CORONAL PLANE FOR ABDOMINAL DISEASE - ITS USEFULNESS AND COMPARISON WITHCONVENTIONAL ANGIOGRAPHY

Using two-dimensional time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography (2 D-TOF MRA) in the coronal plane, 54 cases of arterial disease and 46 c ases of venous disease were evaluated. The results were compared with those of conventional angiography to establish their relative usefulne ss for diagnosing abdominal diseases. Using 2D-TOF MRA, relatively lar ge vessels such as the splenic artery, the trunks of the superior mese nteric artery (SMA) and the renal artery were clearly visualized. Howe ver, smaller vessels such as the gastroduodenal artery, main hepatic a rtery, branches of the SMA and the renal artery were not clearly image d. The diameters of stenotic arteries correlated well with their image s on conventional angiography (r = 0.953). In the venous system, the s plenic, renal and portal veins and the first branches of the portal ve in bilaterally were clearly imaged. Veins, normal or abnormal, less th an 5 mm in diameter were not clearly imaged using 2D-TOF MRA. 2D-TOF M RA in the coronal plane provided useful diagnostic information, especi ally regarding venous diseases, tumour thrombi in the portal vein, ren al vein or inferior vena cava (IVC), collateral vessels or shunts, vas cular malformations, and the relationships between the portal and hepa tic veins. Limitations encountered in arterial disease did not interfe re with evaluations of venous disease.