Hepatic vascular flow measurements by phase contrast MRI and doppler echography: a comparative and reproducibility study.
OBJECTIVE
To directly compare and study the variability of parameters related to hepatic blood flow measurements using 3 T phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (PC-MRI) and Doppler ultrasound (US).


METHODS
Nine healthy subjects were studied. Blood velocities and flow rate measurements were performed in the portal vein and the proper hepatic artery. MR studies were performed using a 3 T imager. Gradient-echo fast phase contrast sequences were used with both cardiac and respiratory gating. MR and Doppler flow parameters were extracted and compared. Two methods of calculation were used for Doppler flow rate analysis.


RESULTS
Compared to Doppler US, PC-MRI largely underestimated hepatic flow data with lower variability and higher reproducibility. This reproducibility was more pronounced in the portal vein than in the proper hepatic artery associated with poorer velocity correlations. Total hepatic flow values were 1239 +/- 223 mL/min and 1595 +/- 521 mL/min for PC-MRI and Doppler US, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Free-breathing PC-MRI can provide reliable noninvasive measurement of hepatic flow parameters compared to Doppler US. The MR technique could help to improve Doppler flow calculations, thereby allowing standardization of protocols, particularly for applications in disease.
Yzet
Thierry
T
Department of Imaging and Biophysics, University Hospital, Jules Verne University of Picardie, Amiens, France.
Bouzerar
Roger
R
Allart
Jean-Dominique
JD
Demuynck
Fabien
F
Legallais
Cécile
C
Robert
Brice
B
Deramond
Hervé
H
Meyer
Marc-Etienne
ME
Balédent
Olivier
O
D000328:Adult; D000792:Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006499:Hepatic Artery / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008102:Liver Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D055420:Perfusion Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler / Q000379:methods*