title: Flow-independent magnetic resonance venography of the calf.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To show that flow-independent venography that exploit the intrinsic MR properties of blood to isolate vessels from surrounding structures can be used for depiction of peripheral veins and for detection of deep venous thrombosis (DVT).
  
  
  METHODS
  Sequence and parameters were first determined on a theoretical basis. The sequence was then optimized in volunteers (N = 4) for the depiction of the peripheral venous vessels. Qualitative evaluation of the normal venous anatomy was performed in five volunteers. The feasibility of diagnosing DVT of the calf with this method was evaluated with preliminary clinical studies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Excellent depiction of the venous anatomy was achieved in all volunteers with the optimized technique. Very small venous structures, such as superficial, muscular, and perforator veins, were clearly depicted because of the high spatial and contrast resolution capacities of the sequences. In all six patients, DVT findings diagnosed by duplex sonography were also seen on MR venography.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Venous anatomy mapping and detection of lower-limb DVT appear feasible using flow-independent MR venograms.
authors.affiliation: Service d'Imagerie Médicale, Hôpital Saint-Eloi, Faculté de Médecine de Montpellier-Nîmes, Montpellier, France. b-gallix@chu-montpellier.fr
authors.forename: Benoît P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Gallix
authors.forename: Cécile
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Achard-Lichère
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dauzat
authors.forename: Jean-Michel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Bruel
authors.forename: Francois-Michel
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Lopez
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D010690:Phlebography; D014463:Ultrasonography; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging