EVALUATION BY MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING OF THE INFERIOR VENA-CAVA INPATIENTS WITH NONSEMINOMATOUS GERM-CELL TUMORS OF THE TESTIS METASTATIC TO THE RETROPERITONEUM

Objective To assess the role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and m agnetic resonance angiography (MRA) in evaluating suspected occlusion of the inferior vena cava (IVC) in patients with abdominal nodal metas tases from non-seminomatous germ cell tumours, thus giving information that may be helpful in planning surgery and for determining the need for anticoagulant therapy. Patients and methods Five patients with abd ominal nodal metastases in whom occlusion of the IVC was suspected on computed tomography (CT) were imaged using a 1.5 T MRI scanner. The MR I findings were compared with those from CT. Results The MR images suc cessfully and clearly detected partial and total occlusions of the IVC by both intraluminal thrombus and extrinsic compression. The techniqu e also clearly detected extensive collateral venous circulation in sev eral cases and in one a cavernous transformation of the IVC. in all pa tients, the MRI studies provided better information than that from CT. Conclusion MRI, and particularly MRA, is a comparatively new techniqu e that is non-invasive and offers the potential of evaluating vascular structures with no need for ionizing radiation or contrast media. Thi s technique, if available, should be chosen for imaging the IVC in pat ients suspected of having compression or occlusion of the IVC.