Left Gastric Vein Visualization with Hepatopetal Flow Information in Healthy Subjects Using Non-Contrast-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Angiography with Balanced Steady-State Free-Precession Sequence and Time-Spatial Labeling Inversion Pulse
- Author:
Akihiro FURUTA
1
;
Hiroyoshi ISODA
;
Tsuyoshi OHNO
;
Ayako ONO
;
Rikiya YAMASHITA
;
Shigeki ARIZONO
;
Aki KIDO
;
Naotaka SAKASHITA
;
Kaori TOGASHI
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords: Non-contrast-enhanced MRA; bSSFP; Time-SLIP; Esophageal varix; Left gastric vein
- MeSH: Abdomen; Esophageal and Gastric Varices; Esophagogastric Junction; Healthy Volunteers; Magnetic Resonance Angiography; Methods; Ultrasonography; Veins
- From:Korean Journal of Radiology 2018;19(1):32-39
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To selectively visualize the left gastric vein (LGV) with hepatopetal flow information by non-contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography under a hypothesis that change in the LGV flow direction can predict the development of esophageal varices; and to optimize the acquisition protocol in healthy subjects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Respiratory-gated three-dimensional balanced steady-state free-precession scans were conducted on 31 healthy subjects using two methods (A and B) for visualizing the LGV with hepatopetal flow. In method A, two time-spatial labeling inversion pulses (Time-SLIP) were placed on the whole abdomen and the area from the gastric fornix to the upper body, excluding the LGV area. In method B, nonselective inversion recovery pulse was used and one Time-SLIP was placed on the esophagogastric junction. The detectability and consistency of LGV were evaluated using the two methods and ultrasonography (US). RESULTS: Left gastric veins by method A, B, and US were detected in 30 (97%), 24 (77%), and 23 (74%) subjects, respectively. LGV flow by US was hepatopetal in 22 subjects and stagnant in one subject. All hepatopetal LGVs by US coincided with the visualized vessels in both methods. One subject with non-visualized LGV in method A showed stagnant LGV by US. CONCLUSION: Hepatopetal LGV could be selectively visualized by method A in healthy subjects.
