Dynamic MRI of hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombus]

Dynamic MRI with injection of Gd-DTPA was performed in 7 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma associated with portal vein tumor thrombus. A portal vein tumor thrombus was clearly visualized as a low intense structure. The segment supplied with this portal vein shows high intensity, probably due to the decrease in portal blood flow and compensated arterial blood flow. A tumor itself, located in this segment, was shown as a low intense area. Thus dynamic MRI is a useful method for differentiating the tumor from the surrounding nontumorous tissue with decrease in portal flow.     

Abdominal venous system: assessment using MR

Twenty-five patients with known or suspected evidence of venous disease based on results of computed tomography, angiography, or ultrasound were imaged with magnetic resonance (MR) to determine the MR characterization of venous abnormalities. MR findings were proved by laparotomy or autopsy in 18 of 25 cases. In seven of 25 patients in whom only biopsy was performed, the MR findings were correlated with findings from other radiologic tests. On MR, the inferior vena cava (IVC), portal vein, and their major tributaries were seen in all but two cases. In those two, identification of collaterals led to the correct diagnosis of splenic vein thrombosis in one case and left renal vein thrombosis in another. MR imaging helped identify intraluminal thrombi in the IVC (12 of 12 cases), portal vein (two of two cases), renal veins (seven of seven cases), superior mesenteric vein (one case), and iliac veins (seven of seven cases). Intraluminal signal intensity secondary to slow blood flow seen in five patients was always differentiated from the thrombus. MR imaging helped identify correctly the nature of the thrombus in 11 of 16 patients. In five patients, the differentiation between tumor thrombus and blood clot thrombus was not possible. Involvement of the IVC wall by tumor was seen in four cases. MR imaging also accurately depicted slow flow in obstructed or constricted veins; encasement, compression, or displacement of veins without intraluminal occlusions; and the presence of venous collaterals. The MR imaging evaluation of venous abnormalities is accurate, easily performed, and will probably become an important application.     

The correlation between MR and angiography in portal hypertension

Forty-two MR examinations and hepatic panangiograms in 38 patients with portal hypertension were correlated with MR images to determine the ability of MR to detect portal vein hemodynamics. These studies were prospectively analyzed for degree of portal perfusion and direction of flow, portal vein thrombosis, and presence and type of shunt surgery. Thirty-three MR examinations were determined to have grade I (good) or II (fair) portal blood flow. Twenty-nine of these were grade I or II by angiography; the other four were grade IV. Of the eight cases documented as grade IV (hepatofugal portal blood flow) by angiography, none were considered grade IV by MR, suggesting that MR was unable to detect retrograde flow. The other case was not graded because of cavernous transformation of the portal vein. MR correlated well with angiography for the detection or absence of portal vein thrombus, agreeing with angiography in 41 of 42 cases. Two angiographically proven cases of portal vein thrombosis were correctly identified on MR. MR correctly identified the absence of portal vein clot in 39 of 40 angiographically negative cases. MR and angiography also agreed in 41 of 42 cases that a shunt was either present/absent or patent/occluded. The single error was due to inadequate MR scanning in the region of interest. The results show that MR cannot be used to grade blood flow in the portal vein. However, MR accurately detects portal vein thrombosis and the patency of surgical shunts.     

彩色多普勒诊断原发性肝癌并门静脉癌栓

目的：探讨原发性肝癌合并门静脉癌栓的彩色多普勒特点及诊断价值。方法：应用Philips HDII彩色超声诊断仪对34例原发性肝癌合并门静脉癌栓的血流特征进行回顾性分析。结果：根据门静脉癌栓内部及周边血流信号的彩色多普勒状况,分为4种情况：①癌栓内无血流信号;②癌栓内有少许血流信号;③门静脉癌栓周围出现动静脉瘘;④癌栓与管壁之间出现动脉血流。结论：原发性肝癌合并门静脉癌栓有其门静脉及肝动脉血流动力学的特殊变化,对区分原发性肝癌和继发性肝癌有较重要的临床价值。     

Segmental intensity differences in the liver on MR images: a sign of intrahepatic portal flow stoppage

Segmental intensity differences (SIDs) in hepatic parenchyma free of tumor were noted in six patients with hepatic masses (hepatocellular carcinoma in five and metastatic liver cancer in one). Areas of SID were homogeneous in intensity. The intensity of the affected region was high in all six patients on T2-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) images and low in two on T1-weighted images. Three of five patients examined with plain computed tomography (CT) had corresponding segmental areas of low attenuation. Angiograms obtained in five patients showed occlusion of the intrahepatic portal vein, segmental staining corresponding to the region of the SID, or both. Twelve of 82 patients examined with MR imaging and angiography had similar findings on angiograms, and ten of them had abnormal intensity of anatomic distribution around or beside the liver tumors on MR images. MR imaging may be more sensitive than plain CT in the detection of secondary changes caused by intrahepatic portal flow stoppage.     

MR imaging of the portal venous system: value of gradient-echo imaging as an adjunct to spin-echo imaging.

We evaluated the use of gradient-echo (GRE) as an adjunct to spin-echo (SE) MR imaging of the portal venous system. GRE imaging was performed in 31 subjects, 15 normal volunteers and 16 patients with documented portal venous disease (15 cases) or suspected disease (one case). Eight of 16 patients had venous thrombosis, five had focal thrombus, and three had complete occlusion. Six patients had extrinsic venous compression by tumor. Of the two other patients, one had an arteriovenous fistula and the other a falsely positive angiogram, suggesting portal vein occlusion. In normal subjects, GRE scans had excellent visualization of the portal venous system with high intravascular signal compared with surrounding tissues. Nine (60%) of 15 normal subjects and three patients had an artifact consisting of a curvilinear area of decreased signal that could mimic clot. In three of five patients with focal thrombus, clot was identified on GRE but not on SE images. In all three patients with occlusion, SE and GRE images demonstrated similar findings. In five of the six patients with extrinsic venous compression by tumor, SE and GRE studies showed similar findings. Of the two patients, an arteriovenous fistula was seen on GRE MR in one, and in the other, patency of the left portal vein was seen on SE and GRE images after angiography had suggested portal vein occlusion. Collateral vessels were seen in nine of 16 patients. In five of nine cases, GRE MR demonstrated more extensive collaterals than did SE MR. In summary, GRE MR provides a useful adjunct to standard SE MR imaging. Benefits include high contrast between vascular structures and surrounding tissues, reduced motion artifact, and rapid scanning within a breath-hold.     

MR evaluation of the portal vein in pediatric liver transplant candidates

Nine pediatric liver transplant candidates underwent preoperative MR evaluation of the portal vein and the inferior vena cava. Sonographic correlation was available in all patients and angiographic correlation was available in five. Pathologic correlation was obtained in seven cases either at liver transplantation or autopsy. MR demonstrated portal vein patency in three cases when it was not seen by angiography and confirmed portal vein patency in one patient when it was questionably identified on sonography. The portal vein was not seen on MR imaging in two cases when it was seen on sonography and angiography: in one case, it was small and to-and-fro flow was demonstrated angiographically; in the second case, the portal vein was occluded by tumor thrombus. Two vessels in two patients were misidentified by sonography and identified correctly by MR. These were an azygous continuation of the inferior vena cava and a large collateral vein in the portal region. Knowledge of the anatomy and documentation of vascular patency are essential in evaluation of patients before liver transplantation. In patients with complex anatomy or hemodynamics, it may be necessary to obtain this information from several imaging techniques (sonography, angiography, and MR).     

MR portal venography: preliminary results of fast acquisition without contrast material or breath holding

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: The authors performed this study to evaluate the feasibility of using the steady-state free precession (SSFP) sequence to perform magnetic resonance (MR) venography of the portal venous system without the use of contrast material or breath holding. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eleven patients underwent MR venography with the SSFP technique. Coronal three-dimensional images were obtained with respiratory triggering. Contrast material and respiratory suspension were not used. All patients had recently undergone at least one other imaging study (conventional angiography, transhepatic portal venography, ultrasound, or contrast-enhanced computed tomography), and these findings were correlated with those from MR venography. The structures evaluated were the main portal vein, right portal vein, left portal vein, superior mesenteric vein, and splenic vein. RESULTS: MR venography with SSFP accurately depicted the status of these veins in all cases except one. In this patient, MR venography depicted portal vein thrombus but could not indicate that it was tumor thrombus. CONCLUSION: MR venography with SSFP accurately depicted the portal venous system in 10 of 11 patients without the use of respiratory suspension or contrast material.     

Transient increased segmental hepatic enhancement distal to portal vein obstruction on dynamic gadolinium-enhanced gradient echo MR images

The purpose of the present study was to demonstrate the frequency of occurrence of transient increased segmental hepatic enhancement distal to portal veto obstruction in patients with a lobar (main branch) portal vein obstruction. MR images of all patients with main and lobar branch portal vein obstruction examined by dynamic gadolinium enhanced gradient echo MR images between December 1990 and July 1994 were reviewed retrospectively. All studies included T2-weighted imaging, Tl-weighted spoiled gradient echo‘fast low angle shot ([FLASH])’ and postgadolinium enhanced PLASH imaging at 1, 45, and 90 sec and 10 min. Fourteen patients were identified with portal vein obstruction which Included: six with main portal and right and left branch occlusion, six with right lobar, and two with left lobar. In the six patients with main portal vein obstruction, enhancement on 1-sec postgadolinium FLASH images was homogenous (three patients), diffusely heterogeneous (two patients), or peripherally hyperintense (one patient). In eight of eight patients with isolated obstruction of the right or left lobar portal vein, transient-increased segmental enhancement distal to portal vein occlusion was observed on immediate postcontrast images. Relatively high signal intensity of the involved segments was present on 1-sec images and liver parenchymal enhancement became more homogeneous by 45 to 90 sec in all cases. In conclusion, transient-increased segmental enhancement occurred in eight of eight patients with isolated right or left portal vein occlusion. We postulate that this effect occurs due to increased hepatic arterial blood flow in the presence of portal vein obstruction.     

Distinction of hepatic vein from portal vein by MR imaging

Fast magnetic resonance (MR) imaging techniques are assuming importance in imaging of the abdomen in part due to their ability to produce images during breath-holding, which ensures high spatial resolution and no respiratory motion artifacts. One problem with rapid scanning of the liver, shared with other MR techniques, is confusion between portal and hepatic veins due to similarity in signal intensity. The fast low angle shot (FLASH) technique (flip angle 40 degrees, repetition time 28 ms, and echo time 16 ms) produces high signal in both venous systems. To remedy the problem we incorporated presaturation pulses applied across the portal and mesenteric veins to the FLASH technique; this induced a decrease in signal in the portal venous system and facilitated their differentiation from hepatic veins. Moreover, in one patient an intraportal tumor thrombus not detected on the standard FLASH technique was rendered visible by presaturation. Although the presaturation pulses in the present series were confined to the sagittal plane, the technique should be applicable in any plane as dictated by the anatomy and direction of blood flow. We anticipate wide use of combined presaturation and rapid scanning techniques.     

125Ⅰ粒子植入治疗门静脉癌栓的初步探讨

目的：探讨125I粒子在门静脉癌栓治疗中的应用价值。方法：自2008年2月～2008年8月,我科共对8例经CT或B超证实为门静脉癌栓的患者进行了125I粒子植入术,术后观察门静脉通畅情况。结果：随访6个月,所有患者复查CT显示门静脉癌栓不同程度的缩小,甚至消失,临床症状明显改善,均无明显不良反应。结论：125I粒子植入术对门静脉癌栓具有疗效可靠,无明显副作用等优点,是介入治疗门静脉癌栓的一种重要治疗手段。     

MRI诊断门静脉血栓的价值

目的: 探讨MRI诊断门静脉血栓的价值.材料和方法: 回顾性分析经临床随访证实为4例门静脉血栓和32例肝细胞癌伴门静脉瘤栓的MRI平扫和多时相动态增强表现与诊断.结果: 3例血栓和32例瘤栓诊断正确、1例血栓误诊为瘤栓.4例血栓T1WI和T2WI呈高信号、用脂肪抑制后T1WI的高信号无变化,多时相动态扫描各期无增强;肝实质内未见肿块或结节.瘤栓T1WI呈低信号、T2WI高信号,动脉期轻至中度增强、门静脉期和延迟期增强的程度下降,31例瘤栓的肝实质内见单发或多灶肿块.结论: 门静脉血栓的MRI表现具有特征性,能准确鉴别血栓和瘤栓.     

Normal and occluded mediastinal veins: MR imaging

The potential of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging to demonstrate the mediastinal veins was evaluated retrospectively in 25 patients with no evidence of a venous abnormality, 28 patients who had narrowing or occlusion of a mediastinal vein, and two patients who had a venous anomaly. In patients with venous occlusion, the MR images graphically demonstrated the sites and extent. MR images also demonstrated slow flow within venous structures proximal to the obstruction. Generally, venous collaterals in the mediastinum and chest wall were better seen with contrast material-enhanced computed tomography scans. The marked contrast on MR images between the signal void of normal vascular structures, the moderate signal intensity of tumor, and the high signal intensity of a thrombus or slowly flowing blood allows ready detection of venous occlusion and may suggest the nature of the occlusion.     

Neoplastic-induced renal vein enlargement: sonographic detection

Five patients with sonographic evidence of a dilated renal vein are described. The etiology of the dilated renal vein was tumor thrombus in two patients, neoplastic arteriovenous shunting in two, and portal systemic shunting into the left renal vein in one. Tumor thrombus had echogenic enlargement of the renal vein, whereas anechoic enlargement of the renal vein was secondary to increased blood flow within the renal vein. Portorenal shunting can be differentiated from a neoplastic renal arteriovenous fistula by the presence of thrombus within the portal system and the absence of a renal mass. Pitfalls in the diagnosis of renal vein enlargement are discussed.     

Portal vein involvement in hepatocellular carcinoma: dynamic CT features

The authors conducted a retrospective examination of 62 hepatocellular carcinomas, taking dynamic CT scans of selected sections after an intravenous contrast bolus. The proximal portal vein was involved in 40% of cases and the distal segment in 16%. Angiographic correlation was available in 23 patients. CT signs of main or lobar portal vein involvement included (a) hypodensity and enlargement, (b) periportal arterial hypervascularization surrounding the hypodense intraluminal region, (c) nonvisualization of the lobar portal vein, (d) arterioportal shunting, and (e) differences in lobar attenuation. The characteristic appearance of tumor within the portal vein was noted in many cases; in others, distinction between tumor and bland thrombus could not be made. Peripheral portal vein obstruction was suggested when a small, hypervascular tumor became hypodense during the portal phase of CT. The frequency and significance of these CT signs of portal vein involvement are discussed.     

LAVA整合ASSET在肝血管成像中的应用价值

目的：探讨肝脏快速容积采集（LAVA）整合阵列空间敏感编码技术（ASSET）在肝血管成像中的价值。方法：对80例肝病患者行肝脏常规MRI平扫及增强扫描。增强扫描采用LAVA整合ASSET;将LAVA采集的原始图像行最大强度投影（MIP）处理并分析其对肝脏病变及肝血管关系的显示情况。结果：80例肝脏病灶全部清晰显示。其中,肝癌42例44个,显示肿瘤血管30例,肿瘤供血动脉明显增粗、变形、移位20例,门静脉受侵25例,门静脉癌栓6例;肝血管瘤5例,肝囊肿8例,轻度肝炎6例,肝硬化18例,胆总管下段乳头状瘤1例。MIP显示肝动脉3级以上分支76例（95%）、门静脉3级以上分支72（90%）及肝静脉3级以上分支64例（80%）。结论：LAVA整合ASSET在肝脏动态扫描中可在较短时间内获得多期高质量增强图像并提供血管解剖信息,具有较高临床应用价值。     

三维对比剂增强MR门静脉成像与直接门静脉造影术对照

目的通过与直接门静脉造影术的比较，评价三维对比剂增强MR门静脉成像（3D CE MRP）的准确性。方法26例患者行3D CE MRP和直接门静脉造影检查。分析3D CE MRP上门静脉主干、肝内左右分支的开放性和侧支循环发生情况，其结果与直接门静脉造影对照，评价两者符合情况，并分析两者不符的原因。结果3D CE MRP和直接门静脉造影显示门静脉主干的结果完全一致。对肝内门静脉分支，有21例2种检查结果符合，但有5例不符。1例肝右叶巨大肿瘤，3D CE MRP显示门静脉右后支闭塞，但直接门静脉造影显示明显狭窄。3例左叶肝癌患者，3D CE MRP显示门静脉左支闭塞，但直接门静脉造影显示其近段狭窄和远端闭塞。另有1例肝癌患者，3D CE MRP显示门静脉左支矢状段小癌栓，而直接门静脉造影却未能显示。除1例脐静脉重开由于扫描范围较小未显示之外，3D CE MRP显示侧支循环的结果和直接门静脉造影相符。结论多数病例，3D CE MRP的显示结果与直接门静脉造影符合。3D CE MRP在鉴别肝内门静脉分支狭窄或闭塞时有一定限度，而在显示门静脉小栓子方面却有优势。     

Contrast-enhanced color Doppler US in malignant portal vein thrombosis

Purpose: To assess the role of contrast-enhanced color Doppler US in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant portal vein thrombosis.Material and Methods: Fifty-six patients with portal vein thrombosis underwent color and power Doppler US examination before and after i.v. injection of galactose-palmitic acid suspension. The criterion for diagnosing the presence and extension of thrombosis was the lack of visualization of portal vein flow in a segment of the portal vein. The criterion for diagnosing malignant portal vein thrombosis was the detection of pulsatile arterial flow, either hepatopetal or hepatofugal, in the thrombus. The US data were correlated with the types of portal vein thrombosis.Results: Among the 56 patients, there were 40 benign and 16 malignant portal thromboses. Unenhanced Doppler US detected continuous blood flow in 24 benign thromboses and pulsatile in 3 malignant thromboses. No flow, either continuous or pulsatile, was detected in 16 cases with benign thrombosis and in 13 cases with malignant thrombosis. Contrast-enhanced Doppler US allowed to assess pulsatile flow in 15 cases with malignant thrombosis (94%). The use of pulsatile flow as diagnostic criterion of malignant thrombosis yielded a sensitivity of 57% and a specificity of 95% with conventional Doppler US, whereas contrast-enhanced US achieved a sensitivity of 94% and a specificity of 100%.Conclusion: Contrast-enhanced Doppler US is a reliable diagnostic tool for assessing malignant portal vein thrombosis.     

肝癌多期动态CT强化特点与PTEN表达的相关性研究

目的:探讨肝癌多期动态CT强化特点及其与抑癌基因PTEN表达的相关性。方法:选择肝细胞癌患者99例行CT扫描,增强扫描包括动脉期早期、动脉晚期、静脉期及延迟期。于后处理工作站分析CT数据,并通过多平面重组、容积再现及最大密度投影观察病变特点,分析肝癌包膜及门静脉癌栓与肝癌内PTEN表达的关系。结果:①动脉晚期对<3cm肝癌病灶的显示率明显高于其他2期(P<0.05)。各期对≥3cm肝癌病灶显示率差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。②有完整包膜的肝癌患者中PTEN阳性28例(75.68%),明显高于包膜不完整及无包膜的肝癌患者(P<0.05),PTEN蛋白的表达与肝癌完整包膜间呈正相关。不伴有门静脉癌栓的肝癌患者中PTEN阳性25例(75.76%),明显高于伴有门静脉癌栓的肝癌患者(P<0.05),PTEN蛋白的表达与门静脉癌栓呈负相关。结论:多期动态螺旋CT扫描对肝细胞癌具有很高的检出率,且肝癌包膜的完整性及门静脉癌栓的有无与PTEN表达存在相关性。     

Streamlined flow in the portal vein: demonstration with MR angiography

PURPOSE: To demonstrate whether streamlining of the portal vein flow exists by evaluating the relative distribution of blood flowing from the superior mesenteric vein (SMV) and splenic vein (SV) into the portal venous system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifteen healthy adult volunteers underwent MR angiography of the main portal vein (PV) and portal vein branches after an overnight fast. Transverse two dimension time-of-flight gradient echo sequences were obtained three times, in suspended expiration and inspiration, respectively, as follows: 1) No presaturation slab, 2) presaturation slab across the SMV, 3) presaturation slab across the SV. Signal intensity (SI) measurements were obtained for all acquisitions. using regions of interest traced manually within the PV and portal branches. RESULTS: After presaturation of the SMV and SV during expiration, the overall SI average in the PV decreased by 47% +/- 8 (mean +/- SD) and 17% +/- 9, respectively. Right to left portal branch SI ratio and right-anterior to left-posterior SI ratio in the PV were 0.91 +/- 0.09 and 1.02 +/- 0.08 at baseline, respectively. They decreased significantly (P < 0.05) to 0.87 +/- 0.09 and to 0.95 +/- 0.09 after saturation of the SMV, and increased significantly to 0.95 +/- 0.08 and to 1.07 +/- 0.10 after saturation of the SV. CONCLUSION: MR angiography with selective saturation of the SMV and SV provided reproducible assessment of the respective contributions of the SMV and SV to portal flow, and allows demonstration that streamlining of splanchnic blood occurs in the portal vein of normal subjects.