[Superparamagnetic iron oxide enhanced MR angiography of the portal vein system].
OBJECTIVE
Superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) is used for the detection of focal liver lesions. The current study examines whether the blood-pool effect of an approved substance is adequate for contrast-enhanced MR angiography of the portal venous system.


METHODS
Fifteen patients [9 women, 6 men, mean age 57 (34-73)] were examined with a breathhold 3D-FISP sequence (TR/TE/FA; 5 ms/2 ms/25 degrees) at 1.5 Tesla (Vision; Siemens, Erlangen) during the last third of a half-hour Infusion of a standard dose (15 mumol Fe/kg) of AMI-25 (Endorem, Guerbet Co., France). The image quality of source images and 3D reconstructions was evaluated by two examiners using a 3-point scale.


RESULTS
Large vessels (portal vein, left and right branch of the portal vein, superior mesenteric vein, splenic vein) are visualized well or adequately in 80-93% of the cases, while this was achieved in only 53-60% of the small veins (vessels of the first order emptying into the superior mesenteric vein and the spleen). Venous arcades of the mesenterium are not visible by this technique.


CONCLUSIONS
SPIO-supported MRA of the portal venous system yields usable results in the majority of patients. A possible indication is preinterventional angiography together with an SPIO examination for the detection of focal liver lesions.
Schmitz
S A
SA
Radiologische Klinik, Klinikum B. Franklin, FU Berlin. s.schmitz@medizin.fu-berlin.de
Albrecht
T
T
Jensen
K
K
Wolf
K J
KJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D052203:Ferrosoferric Oxide; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007501:Iron; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000556:secondary*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008297:Male; D008642:Mesenteric Veins / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010087:Oxides; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000473:pathology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013162:Splenic Vein / Q000473:pathology
D003287:Contrast Media; D010087:Oxides; D007501:Iron; D052203:Ferrosoferric Oxide