Non-contrast MR portography using time-spatial labeling inversion pulse for diagnosis of portal vein pathology

• Main Authors: Amr Ahmed Mubarak, Ghada Elsaed Awad, Mohamed Adel Eltomey, Mahmoud Abd Elaziz Dawoud
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: SpringerOpen 2019-10-01
• Series: The Egyptian Journal of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine
• Subjects: Portal vein; Portography; Non-contrast; Time-spatial; T-SLIP; Magnetic resonance
• Online Access: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s43055-019-0036-5

Abstract Background To study the ability of non-contrast MR portography using time-spatial labeling inversion pulse (T-SLIP) as a non-invasive contrast-free imaging modality to delineate different portal vein pathological conditions. The study included 25 patients with known history of portal vein disease and another 25 age-matched patients with normal portal vein. Both groups were examined by respiratory-triggered non-contrast MR portography using time-spatial labeling inversion pulse technique. Image quality was assessed first, and findings of diagnostic scans were compared to color duplex ultrasonography and selectively in those with diseased portal vein to portal-phase images of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI. Results Significant relation was found between breathing regularity and image quality in T-SLIP sequence, with diagnostic scans sensitivity and specificity of 89.29% and 86.21%, respectively, for diagnosis of different portal vein pathological conditions. Conclusions Non-contrast MR portography is a useful technique for diagnosis of portal vein pathology in carefully selected patients.