Azygos venous blood flow: measurement with direct bolus imaging.
Nabeshima M, Moriyasu F, Nishikawa K, Hamato N, Fujimoto M, Nada T, Okuma M, Shimizu K.: Radiology 1995 May;195(2):467-70
PURPOSE: To evaluate a magnetic
resonance (MR) imaging technique for measurement of azygos blood
flow volume, which is an important indicator of superior collateral
circulation in patients with portal hypertension. MATERIALS AND
METHODS: Azygos blood flow was measured by means of direct bolus
(DB) imaging, an MR flow measurement technique. A presaturation
pulse was applied in combination with electrocardiographic gating.
RESULTS: The measured flow volume was 320 mL/min +/- 30 (mean
+/- standard error of mean) in the control subjects, 550 mL/min
+/- 130 in 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 cirrhosis 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 imaging, which is noninvasive,
was useful in the monitoring of the effect of treatment and in
determination of the prognosis in patients with portal hypertension.
| Retour au texte | Sommaire |