In vivo flow-independent T2 measurements of superior mesenteric vein blood in diagnosis of chronic mesenteric ischemia: a preliminary evaluation.
OBJECTIVE
The authors attempted to determine whether the T2 relaxation time of superior mesenteric vein (SMV) blood would decrease in patients with chronic mesenteric ischemia after a meal.


METHODS
Thirty-two patients without chronic mesenteric ischemia and eight patients with symptomatic chronic mesenteric ischemia underwent magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. All examinations were performed with a 1.5-T unit, a modified Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill sequence, final section-selective pulse of 180 degrees, and spiral readout gradients. Measurements of SMV blood T2 were obtained after at least 6 hours of fasting and 15 and 35 minutes after ingestion of 240 mL of a liquid nutritional supplement. Maximal change of the SMV blood T2 was expressed as a percentage of the fasting T2 in all patients.


RESULTS
In control patients, SMV blood T2 increased postprandially by 9.4% +/- 1.3 (95% confidence level; range, 6.8%-11.9%) (data range, -7.3% to 25.6%) compared with fasting T2. In symptomatic patients, SMV blood T2 decreased postprandially by 15.8% +/- 2.2 (95% confidence level; range, -20.1% to -10.7%) (data range, -7.9% to -25.3%). The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P < .0001 by Student unpaired t test).


CONCLUSIONS
Measurement of SMV blood T2 is a promising test for chronic mesenteric ischemia diagnosis. Therefore, conversion of T2 measurements to estimate oxygen saturation may not be necessary for all cases of this clinical indication.
Li
K C
KC
Department of Radiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Calif, USA.
Dalman
R L
RL
Wright
G A
GA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008641:Mesenteric Vascular Occlusion / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008642:Mesenteric Veins; D008875:Middle Aged; D019518:Postprandial Period; D012039:Regional Blood Flow