MR imaging in the evaluation of the therapeutic effect of B-RTO for gastric varices.
OBJECTIVE
Balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (B-RTO) has become a new treatment option for gastric varices. In the present study, mid-term follow-up data after B-RTO were presented, and the role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and MR-portography in the assessment of therapeutic effect was evaluated.


METHODS
Twelve patients with gastric varices were treated with up to three sessions of B-RTO. The patients were followed up with MRI, MR-portography, and endoscopy for a mean of 12.3 months.


RESULTS
In ten patients, one (n = 8) or two (n = 2) sessions of B-RTO were effective to produce immediate (< 2 weeks) variceal obliteration on MRI and MR-portography. Endoscopic confirmation of variceal eradication was obtained within three (n = 9) or six (n = 1) months after B-RTO in these patients. The remaining two patients who underwent three sessions of B-RTO showed only a significant reduction in variceal size immediately after B-RTO, but variceal obliteration was observed within three months with subsequent variceal eradication. There were no signs of exacerbation of gastric varices on MRI and endoscopy in any patient during the follow-up period.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that B-RTO is effective for the treatment of gastric varices. MRI and MR-portography may provide accurate assessment of therapeutic effect.
Third Department of Internal Medicine, Kansai Medical University, Osaka, Japan.
H
H
Kin
Y
Y
Kubota
K
K
Tsuji
Y
Y
Takeuchi
M
M
Takaoka
M
M
Ogura
S
S
Yamamoto
K
K
Yanagitani
S
S
Yanagitani
K
K
Inoue
H
H
Kurokawa
Y
Y
Tanaka
D000368:Aged; D002404:Catheterization; D004724:Endoscopy; D004932:Esophageal and Gastric Varices / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016558:Hemostasis, Endoscopic; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012597:Sclerosing Solutions; D015911:Sclerotherapy / Q000379:methods*
D012597:Sclerosing Solutions