MR measurements of mesenteric venous flow: Prospective evaluation in healthy volunteers and patients with suspected chronic mesenteric ischemia

David J. Burkart, C. Daniel Johnson, Carl C. Reading, Richard L. Ehman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

81 Scopus citations

Abstract

PURPOSE: To quantify portal vein (PV) and superior mesenteric vein (SMV) flow before and after a standardized meal in healthy volunteers and to prospectively evaluate patients with a clinical suspicion of chronic mesenteric ischemia on the basis of magnetic resonance (MR) measurement of flow in the mesenteric venous system in volunteers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cine phase-contrast flow measurements were acquired in 10 asymptomatic volunteers and in 10 patients. RESULTS: In volunteers, the difference between the fasting and post-prandial flows in the SMV and PV was significant (P < .001), with a peak flow augmentation of 245% ± 74 and 70% ± 29, respectively. Postprandial augmentation of peak flow in the SMV was significantly less in patients with mesenteric ischemia compared with volunteers (64% ± 28; P = .02). SMV flow augmentation in patients without mesenteric ischemia did not differ significantly from that in volunteers (206% ± 36; P = .31). CONCLUSION: Measurement of postprandial flow augmentation in the SMV with MR imaging shows promise as a noninvasive screening test for chronic mesenteric ischemia.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)801-806
Number of pages6
JournalRadiology
Volume194
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 1995

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'MR measurements of mesenteric venous flow: Prospective evaluation in healthy volunteers and patients with suspected chronic mesenteric ischemia'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this