[An analysis of extravariceal collaterals of gastric varices using magnetic resonance angiography in portal hypertensive patients].
OBJECTIVE
This study was aimed to analyze the relationship between gastric varices and its collaterals using magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) and to assess the usefulness of MRA in studies of portosystemic circulation.


METHODS
Eighty-one patients who had portal hypertension with gastric varices took MRA before the therapy for gastric varices.


RESULTS
The types of collaterals observed by MRA were left gastric vein in 67 patients (83%), short gastric vein in 28 (35%), gastrorenal shunt in 25 (31%), and splenorenal shunt in 14 (17%). In most of patients with advanced gastric varices, the size of left gastric vein was larger than others. In most cases of large gastric varices, the short gastric vein ranged between 5 to 10 mm. Gastrorenal shunt was also correlated with the size of gastric varices. The types of more prominent esophageal varices showed a right type (left gastric vein predominance), but the types of more prominent gastric varices or only the gastric varices showed a left type (posterior or short gastric vein predominance) (p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Gadolinium enhanced 3D-MRA can contribute to the study of the hemodynamic relationships between gastric vein and the collateral circulations by presenting more clear images for patients with portal hypertension.
Park
Chul Hee
CH
Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Digestive Disease and Nutrition, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Chun
Hoon Jai
HJ
Jeong
Rok Sun
RS
Kim
Kyung Ho
KH
Kim
Yong Sik
YS
Kim
Young Sun
YS
Jeen
Yoon Tae
YT
Lee
Hong Sik
HS
Um
Soon Ho
SH
Lee
Sang Woo
SW
Choi
Jai Hyun
JH
Kim
Chang Duck
CD
Ryu
Ho Sang
HS
Hyun
Jin Hai
JH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003097:Collateral Circulation; D004932:Esophageal and Gastric Varices / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013270:Stomach / Q000098:blood supply*