AZYGOS VENOUS-BLOOD FLOW - MEASUREMENT WITH DIRECT BOLUS IMAGING

PURPOSE: To evaluate a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging technique for m easurement of azygos blood flow volume, which is an important indicato r of superior collateral circulation in patients with portal hypertens ion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Azygos blood flow was measured by means of direct bolus (DB) imaging, an MR flow measurement technique. A presat uration pulse was applied in combination with electrocardiographic gat ing. RESULTS: The measured flow volume was 320 mL/min +/- 30 (mean +/- standard error of mean) in the central subjects, 550 mL/min +/- 130 i n patients with cirrhosis of the liver and without varices, and 660 mL /min +/- 60 in patients with cirrhosis of the liver and with varices. The flow volume was significantly higher in each of the groups with ci rrhosis of the liver than in the control group (P < .01). Furthermore, a significant correlation was shown between DB imaging and continuous thermodilution measurements (r = .707, P < .01). CONCLUSION: DB imagi ng, which is noninvasive, was useful in the monitoring of the effect o f treatment and in determination of the prognosis in patients with por tal hypertension.