Diagnosis of liver disease in children: value of MR angiography.
We retrospectively studied the clinical use of MR angiography, a gradient-echo technique susceptible to motion, in the preoperative evaluation of the hepatic vasculature in children with liver disease. Twenty imaging examinations were performed in 18 patients 3 months to 10 years old (mean, 2.3 years). Eleven patients had liver tumors and seven had cirrhosis associated with biliary atresia, cystic fibrosis, and short-bowel syndrome. Respiratory motion artifacts were present in most patients, but all MR angiographic studies were technically adequate. Comparing MR angiograms with spin-echo images, we found that vascular visualization was better with MR angiography in 12 cases (60%), equal in five (25%), and worse in three (15%). In 10 of 20 cases, MR angiography provided additional vascular information not present on spin-echo images. MR angiography is a useful adjunct to spin-echo imaging for assessing hepatic vascular anatomy in children with liver disease.
Hubbard
A M
AM
Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, PA 19104.
Meyer
J S
JS
Mahboubi
S
S
D000792:Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006499:Hepatic Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006503:Hepatic Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012189:Retrospective Studies