Diagnosis of Budd-Chiari syndrome: comparison between sonography and MR angiography.
OBJECTIVE
To compare findings with color Doppler sonography and magnetic resonance (MR) angiography in the diagnosis of Budd-Chiari syndrome.


METHODS
Doppler sonographic scans and MR angiograms in 11 patients (five men and six women; age range, 30-63 years; mean age, 45 years) with proved Budd-Chiari syndrome were subjected to retrospective review.


RESULTS
Occlusion of three hepatic veins was identified in each of two patients, of two hepatic veins in each of four patients, and of one hepatic vein in each of five patients at both Doppler sonography and MR angiography. Dominant intrahepatic venovenous collateral pathways were identified in eight of 11 patients and spider-web collaterals were identified in three of 11 patients at both sonography and MR angiography.


CONCLUSIONS
Sonography enables noninvasive diagnosis of Budd-Chiari syndrome. MR angiography affords similar diagnostic information and may be of value when the diagnosis is not clear after sonographic examination or when body habitus limits a complete sonographic examination.
Kane
R
R
Department of Radiological Sciences, Deaconess Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215.
Eustace
S
S
D006502:Budd-Chiari Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003097:Collateral Circulation; D005260:Female; D006503:Hepatic Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008102:Liver Circulation; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color