Chronic mesenteric ischemia: evaluation with phase-contrast cine MR imaging.
OBJECTIVE
To compare superior mesenteric artery (SMA) blood flow in healthy volunteers and patients with stenoses in the fasting state and after food intake by using phase-contrast (PC) cine magnetic resonance (MR) imaging.


METHODS
Ten healthy subjects, four asymptomatic patients (three with 50% stenosis, one with 70% stenosis), and one symptomatic patient (with 80% stenosis) were studied. All subjects were studied after fasting at least 8 hours and 15, 30, and 45 minutes after ingesting a standard meal.


RESULTS
In healthy volunteers, SMA blood flow at all postprandial intervals increased significantly compared with that obtained after fasting (P < or = .0005). The percentage change in SMA blood flow 30 minutes after food intake provided the best distinction between the healthy subjects, the asymptomatic patients, and the symptomatic patient.


CONCLUSIONS
Cine PC MR imaging is an effective, noninvasive technique for measuring SMA blood flow.
Li
K C
KC
Department of Radiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, CA.
Whitney
W S
WS
McDonnell
C H
CH
Fredrickson
J O
JO
Pelc
N J
NJ
Dalman
R L
RL
Jeffrey
R B
RB
D000328:Adult; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D017538:Mesenteric Artery, Superior / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D008641:Mesenteric Vascular Occlusion / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D011859:Radiography