磁共振THRIVE序列三维血管成像肝门静脉变异研究

目的 应用肝"一站式"检查的THRIVE序列采集并重建肝门静脉图像,分析肝门静脉变异.方法 收集648例应用THRIVE序列采集并重建的肝门静脉三维图像,分析肝门静脉解剖变异,并分别测量肝门静脉主干(MPV)、脾静脉(SV)、肠系膜上静脉(SMV)及肠系膜下静脉(IMV)的管径.结果 (1)肝门静脉的肝内变异:正常型79.2%(514/648)、Ⅰ型变异8.3%(54/648)、Ⅱ型变异9.0%(58/648)、Ⅲ型变异3.4%(22/648);(2)肝门静脉的肝外变异:Ⅰ型37.4%(167/447)、Ⅱ型20.4%(91/447)、Ⅲ型36.2%(162/447)、其他6.0%(27/447);(3)管径测量:MPV(14.03±2.44) mm、SV(9.51±2.40) mm、SMV(11.14±1.99) mm、IMV(6.01±0.78) mm.结论 肝"一站式"检查中,应用THRIVE序列采集、重建的血管图像,分析肝门静脉变异是可行的.     

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.     

Successful portal-systemic shunt occlusion of a direct shunt between the inferior mesenteric vein and inferior vena cava with balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration following recanalization after placing a covered stent in the portal and superior mesenteric veins

Extrahepatic portal-systemic shunts cause portal-systemic encephalopathy. Direct communication between the inferior mesenteric vein (IMV) and the inferior vena cava (IVC) is a relatively rare pathway among the variety of portal-systemic shunts. This report describes a case of successful occlusion of an IMV-IVC shunt. Based on laboratory data and computed tomography findings, a 69-year-old woman with liver cirrhosis was diagnosed with portal-systemic encephalopathy due to a shunt between the IMV and the IVC. Her hepatic coma had not been adequately controlled by oral or intravenous pharmacotherapy. First, we placed a covered stent in the main trunk of the portal vein and the superior mesenteric vein (SMV) to block the SMV hepatofugal flow and splenic vein hepatopetal flow, but this therapy showed only a transient therapeutic effect due to recanalization. Next, we performed balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (BRTO) of the portal-systemic shunt. After the BRTO, she has had no episodes of portal-systemic encephalopathy for 2 years.     

三维动态增强磁共振血管成像在肝移植术前的应用

 目的探讨三维动态增强磁共振血管成像(3D DCE MRA)三期扫描技术,评价其在肝移植术前的诊断价值.方法对拟进行肝移植的183例患者进行术前3D DCE MRA成像扫描,采用Siemens Symphony 1.5T超导MRI扫描机,圆形极化相控阵体线圈,3D DCE MRA三期(动脉期、门脉期和静脉期)扫描技术,即对所得图像进行综合评价.结果全部病例均获得了满意的血管成像图像,肝动脉可显示2～3级分支,门静脉可显示2～5级分支,肝静脉可显示1～2级分支.183例肝移植患者,5例显示肝动脉变异,其中2例起自肠系膜上动脉,2例直接起自腹腔干,1例起自胃左动脉.单纯肝硬化门脉高压103例,其中,冠状静脉和食道胃底静脉曲张23例、脐周静脉曲张5例、肠系膜静脉曲张2例、脾门周围静脉曲张30例,门静脉玻璃样变性1例;原发性肝癌79例,5例肝动脉包埋、僵直、推移,2例肝内动-静脉瘘,门静脉右支癌栓23例,门静脉左支癌栓7例,门静脉主干癌栓3例,同时发生门静脉左右支癌栓的2例,MRA表现为门静脉呈半月形或杯口形缺损或不显影.7例肝静脉出现栓塞,5例下腔静脉受压推移,1例下腔静脉瘤栓.结论 3D DCE MRA三期扫描能很好的显示肝动脉、门静脉、肝静脉及下腔静脉系统病变,肝移植术前应用3D DCE MRA,基本达到临床要求,是术前血管评估的有效方法.     

Percutaneous CT-guided superior mesenteric vein access for portal vein recanalization-transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt

Portal vein recanalization-transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (PVR-TIPS) is a valuable technique in the treatment cirrhosis and portal vein (PV) thrombosis. Only a few studies have reported cases of utilizing the transmesenteric approach in the procedure''s initial portal access. Here, we report the successful utilization of a CT-guided percutaneous puncture of the superior mesenteric vein (SMV) for PVR-TIPS in a patient with splenic vein thrombosis. A 54-year-old male with a history of morbid obesity (BMI: 44.67), hepatitis C, NASH cirrhosis, esophageal varices, and complete PV thrombosis presented for PVR-TIPS. An initial percutaneous transplenic approach was attempted, but was aborted due to the discovery of a splenic vein thrombosis. Subsequently, the patient was brought back into the hybrid-angio CT suite, and the SMV was accessed percutaneously with a 21-gauge needle under 4D CT-guidance. A 5-Fr micropuncture sheath was then placed. Additional portal venogram confirmed PV thrombosis. Right internal jugular vein (IJV) access was then obtained, and the right hepatic vein was catheterized. A loop snare was advanced from the SMV access into the right PV. A Colapinto needle was later positioned in the right hepatic vein, and the right PV was accessed using the loop snare as a target. A wire was then advanced and captured by the snare, and brought down through the PV. The tract was dilated with a 10 mm balloon, and a Viatorr stent was deployed. Balloon embolectomy of the SMV, splenomesenteric vein, and TIPS were then performed with a CODA balloon with improvement in flow through the TIPS on final portal venogram. Portosystemic gradient was 11 mmHg initially and 10 mmHg post-TIPS. Follow-up TIPS venogram in 3 weeks showed a widely patent TIPS. CT-guided percutaneous SMV access may serve as valuable technique in PVR-TIPS when traditional modes of initial portal access for recanalization are unobtainable.     

结直肠癌肝转移瘤的CT动态增强强化特点及病灶分布规律

目的：探讨结直肠癌肝转移瘤的 CT 动态增强强化特点和病灶分布规律。方法：回顾性分析120例结直肠癌肝转移瘤患者的 CT 动态增强图像及临床资料,记录肿瘤原发灶部位、肝转移瘤的位置和数目、肝转移瘤的不同时相的强化特点及肠系膜下静脉汇入门静脉的位置。结果：CT 动态增强共检出肝内病灶486个,其中表现为环状强化灶245个（50．4％）,结节状强化灶183个（37．7％）,其他不典型强化灶58个（11．9％）。原发病灶位于右半结肠（右半结肠组）时,其转移灶在肝左、右叶的分布差异有统计学意义（P ＜0．05）。原发病灶位于左半结肠（左半结肠组）时,其转移灶在肝左、右叶的分布差异无统计义（P ＞0．05）。排除转移灶均匀分布于肝左、右叶的病例后,右半结肠组与左半结肠组肝转移灶的分布差异无统计学意义（P ＞0．05）。左半大肠癌肝转移患者中,肠系膜下静脉（IMV）汇入脾静脉（SPV）者34例,其转移灶在肝左、右叶的分布差异有统计学意义（P ＜0．05）。IMV 汇入肠系膜上静脉（SMV）者32例,其转移灶在肝左、右叶的分布差异有统计学意义（P ＜0．05）。IMV 汇入 SPV 与 SMV 汇合处者11例,其转移灶在肝左、右叶的分布差异无统计学意义（P ＞0．05）。结论：结直肠癌肝转移瘤的 CT 动态增强图像有一定特点,结直肠癌肝转移瘤的病灶分布有一定规律,了解这些情况有助于提高结直肠癌肝转移瘤的检出率和诊断符合率,减少误诊率。     

Evaluation of intraportal venous flow distribution by unenhanced MR angiography using three‐dimensional fast spin‐echo with a selective tagging pulse: Efficacy of subtraction of tag‐on and tag‐off images acquired during a single breath‐hold

Purpose

To evaluate the efficacy of subtracted MR images from two sets of unenhanced three‐dimensional (3D) MR angiography data (tag‐on and tag‐off images) acquired simultaneously during a single breath‐hold in assessing the intraportal venous flow distribution to the distal branches from the superior mesenteric vein (SMV) and the splenic vein (SpV).

Materials and Methods

Tag‐on and tag‐off MR images during a single breath‐hold were obtained in 25 normal subjects. Tagging pulse was placed on the SMV or SpV separately to study inflow correlation of tagged blood into the portal vein.

Results

On the MR images tagged on the SMV, the mean ratings of visibility of tagged blood flow on the subtracted images were significantly higher (P = 0.016–0.0001) than those on the source images in almost all branches except second‐ordered left portal vein (P = 0.096). On the subtracted MR images tagged on SMV, the tramline (16 of the 25 subjects) was the most common distribution pattern of the tagged blood inflow in the main portal vein.

Conclusion

Subtracted MR images from two sets of unenhanced 3D MR angiography data (tag‐on and tag‐off images) acquired simultaneously would be effective to show the blood flow distribution of tagged blood into the portal vein and distal branches from SMV and SpV under the physiological condition without contrast injections. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2009;29:1224–1229. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

肝内门静脉和肝静脉的解剖与变异(三维动态增强磁共振血管成像分析)

目的用三维动态增强磁共振血管成像（３ｄｉｍｅｎｔｉｏｎａｌｄｙｎａｍｉｃｃｏｎｔｒａｓｔｅｎｈａｎｃｅｄＭＲＡ,３ＤＤＣＥＭＲＡ）前瞻性地观测肝内门静脉（简称门脉）和肝静脉的解剖和变异。方法共进行１４２例门脉和肝静脉３ＤＤＣＥＭＲＡ检查。对肝内门脉和肝静脉的解剖和变异做分型,计算每一型所占总调查人数的比例,并计算右后下肝静脉的显示率。结果１４２次成像中,８例（５．６％）显示门脉呈三分叉状,７例（４．９％）门脉先分出右后支,然后上行分为左支和右前支,４例（２．８％）门脉右前支源于左支,未发现有门脉左支水平段或右支缺如,余下１２３例（８６．６％）显示正常门脉分支。绝大多数情况下（９５．１％）肝中、肝左静脉合并,而三大支肝静脉单独汇入下腔静脉仅占４．９％。右后下肝静脉的显示率为７．７％。结论肝内门脉变异并不少见。肝中和肝左静脉多合并后汇入下腔静脉。部分病人有较为粗大的右后下肝静脉。３ＤＤＣＥＭＲＡ能方便而清楚地显示上述血管的解剖和变异     

门静脉3D DCE MRA成像的价值与常规门静脉造影对照研究

与常规门静脉造影对照,评价门静脉三维动态态增磁共振血管成像（３－ｄｉｍｅｎｓｉｏｎａｌｄｙｎａｍｉｃｃｏｎｔｒａｓｔｅｎｈａｎｅｄＭＲＡ,３ＤＤＣＥＭＲＡ）显示门静脉开放性及侧支循环的能力。材料与方法：共有２０例患者做了门静脉ＤＤＣＥＭＲＡ成像,分析门静脉３ＤＤＣＥＭＲＡ上门脉主干,肝内门脉     

超声测量脾静脉与门静脉内径比对诊断特发性门脉高压的意义

目的研究特发性门脉高压综合征(IdiopathicPortalHypertensionSyndrome,IPH)的超声诊断标准。方法利用超声分别测量9例IPH与30例肝硬化组及30例正常对照组脾静脉(splenicvein,SpV)与门静脉主干(portalvein,PV)内径(Dsp,Dp),并计算它们的比值。结果IPH组Dsp/DP均大于1.0,与肝硬化组,正常对照组相比均有显著性差异(P<0.05)。结论Dsp/Dp大于1.0作为超声诊断标准能够简单易行地对IPH作出诊断。     

多层螺旋CT对胰源性门静脉高压的诊断价值

目的探讨多层螺旋CT腹部增强扫描在诊断胰源性门静脉高压(PSPH)中的价值。方法对15例临床疑诊胰腺体尾部病变累及门静脉系统的患者的增强CT资料进行回顾性研究,观察门静脉系统形态改变,并测量胃冠状静脉、门静脉、脾静脉、肠系膜上静脉内径。结果急慢性胰腺炎及胰腺癌侵犯或压迫脾静脉,血液向门静脉回流受阻,致其远端显影不佳,近端血管扩张以及侧支循环形成最终导致胰源性门静脉高压症。结论多排螺旋CT可连续观察侧支循环走行,清晰显示病变与邻近结构关系,为胰源性门脉高压患者提供血管形态、病因诊断等多方面有价值信息,并为临床诊断和治疗提供客观的影像学依据。     

Assessment of portosystemic shunting from superior mesenteric vein by duodenal administration of iodoamphetamine I123.

Portosystemic shunting (PSS) from the superior mesenteric vein (SMV) was evaluated with the duodenal administration of iodoamphetamine I123 (IMP) in patients with chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis. After duodenal intubation, IMP was administered through a tube, and then scintigraphy including the pulmonary and hepatic regions was performed. In all patients, images of the liver and/or lungs were observed within 10 min and became clear with time, due to a good absorption of IMP from the intestine. On the other hand, IMP appears not to be absorbed from the stomach. The portosystemic shunt index was calculated by dividing counts of lungs by counts of liver and lungs. The shunt index (mean +/- SE) was 1.5% +/- 0.8%, 12.6% +/- 3.7% and 28.3% +/- 4.5% in chronic hepatitis, compensated cirrhosis and decompensated cirrhosis, respectively. This index was significantly higher in cirrhosis, especially in decompensated cirrhosis. Therefore, transintestinal portal scintigraphy with IMP could be a useful method for the non-invasive and quantitative evaluation of PSS from the SMV in portal hypertension.     

Aneurysms of the portal venous system: ultrasonography and CT findings

Objective: The retrospective study of aneurysms of the portal venous system and their possible aetiology, using different imaging methods. Material and methods: Between 1992 and 1995 we collected 13 cases of portal vein aneurysm from 11 patients, eight of whom suffered portal hypertension (PH) secondary to hepatic cirrhosis. All were diagnosed by means of ultrasonography (155) and/or computed tomography (CT). The aneurysms were defined as fusiform expansions when in the main portal vein and its branches or as cystic lesions with internal flow when in the intrahepatic branches. Results: Ten of the aneurysms (76.9%) were in the extrahepatic portal venous system and three (23.1%) in intrahepatic branches. Of the extrahepatic aneurysms, the two most common locations were the main portal vein and the confluence of superior mesenteric and splenic veins (30.7% each site). The largest were generally those at the confluence (37.6±9.7 mm maximum diameter). Conclusion: Aneurysms in the portal system can be congenital or acquired. Although their aetiology is uncertain, we found a clear relation to PH syndrome; of 13 aneurysms in the study, eight were related to this disease. PH should be suspected in the evaluation of portal aneurysms.     

Blood flow dynamics of the portal venous system in liver cirrhosis using pulse Doppler method

Blood flow dynamics of the portal venous system including portal vein, splenic and superior mesenteric arteries, in thirty seven cases with liver cirrhosis and 32 controls were studied by means of the pulse doppler method. Maximum blood flow velocity of the main portal vein in liver cirrhosis was 0.21 m/sec in mean, significantly lower than in controls. Blood flow volume of the portal vein in liver cirrhosis was 18.9 ml/min.kg, which was a significant increase compared with that of controls. The cases of liver cirrhosis showed an increased blood flow volume of the splenic and superior mesenteric arteries, showing an increased pre-load to the spleen. In 5 cases, liver volume measured by computed tomography was not changed despite of an increase of the main portal venous flow volume. Three of these 5 cases were of more advanced liver cirrhosis with over 40 percent of ICG value. They bend to have higher portal venous velocity than the other cases with less advanced liver cirrhosis. No correlation of the splenic arterial flow volume and the spleen volume was thought to indicate after-load to the spleen as a factor of splenic enlargement.     

Pseudothrombosis in the portal venous system: a potential pitfall with gadolinium-enhanced dynamic gradient-recalled echo imaging of the liver

Gadolinium-enhanced dynamic magnetic resonance (MR) images in 90 patients were reviewed to assess the artifacts mimicking portal venous thrombosis. The incidence of definite signal-intensity decrease mimicking pathologic condition was higher (P < 0.01) in the right (8%) and left (9%) portal vein branches and portal trunk (6%) than in the splenic (0%) or superior mesenteric (1%) vein with equilibrium-phase images. Radiologists should remember that dynamic MR images occasionally show signal-intensity decrease mimicking portal venous thrombosis due to flow artifact.     

Observation of portal circulation through superior mesenteric vein by enteric coated capsule of thallium-201

A new method of oral administration of an enteric coated capsule of 201Tl (201Tl-capsule) was developed to evaluate the portal circulation through the superior mesenteric vein (SMV). The 201Tl-capsule was not collapsed in the artificial gastric juice, whereas it melted soon after soaking in the artificial intestinal juice. In a clinical trial of 42 cases, 201Tl was satisfactory released in the duodenum in 36 cases where clear liver images were observed except in 1 patient. Heart to liver ratio (H/L) at 60 or 90 min after duodenal release of 201Tl was 0.32 +/- 0.07 (mean +/- 1 s.d.) in normal controls, 0.34 +/- 0.12 in chronic hepatitis, 0.31 +/- 0.12 in acute hepatitis, 0.45 +/- 0.13 in liver cirrhosis and 0.48 +/- 0.32 in cirrhosis with hepatocellular carcinoma. In 11 patients who had both oral and rectal studies with 201Tl, 7 showed a high H/L ratio of more than 0.8 in the rectal study but only 1 showed a similarly high ratio of 1.07 in the oral study. In the group of varied liver disorders we have studied so far, it was found that most of the SMV blood flowed into the liver and the degree of portal systemic shunting (PSS) from the SMV was much smaller compared to that from the inferior mesenteric vein. The present study with oral administration of the 201Tl-capsule was of value in understanding portal circulation through the SMV, however, this technique seemed of limited usefulness for evaluating overall pathologic PSS.     

Pre- and postprandial alterations of portal venous flow: evaluation with single breath-hold three-dimensional half-Fourier fast spin-echo MR imaging and a selective inversion recovery tagging pulse

PURPOSE: To evaluate the influence of food intake on portal flow using unenhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study population included 29 healthy subjects. A selective inversion recovery tagging pulse was used on the superior mesenteric vein (SMV) and splenic vein (SpV) to study the correlation of tagged blood in the portal vein (PV). MRI was performed before and 60-90 min after a meal. RESULTS: The flow signal from the SMV increased in 97% of the subjects after the meal. Before the meal the portal flow was dominated by flow from the SpV in 59% of the subjects, while it was dominated by flow from the SMV in 76% of the subjects after the meal. The most common distribution pattern of the flow signal from the SpV before the meal was in the central part of the main PV (55%), while it was in the left side (45%) after the meal. The most common distribution pattern of the flow signal from the SMV was in the bilateral sides of the main PV both before and after the meal (62%). CONCLUSION: This technique shows potential for evaluating pre- and postprandial alterations of flow from the SpV and SMV in the PV under physiological conditions.     

Effect of verapamil on portal and splanchnic hemodynamics in patients with advanced posthepatitic cirrhosis using duplex Doppler ultrasound

Purpose: To assess the effect of verapamil (80 mg) oral administration on portal and splanchnic hemodynamics in patients with advanced posthepatitic cirrhosis using duplex Doppler ultrasound (US). Methods: Fourteen patients with post-hepatitic liver cirrhosis were included in the study. Duplex Doppler sonographic examinations were performed before, and 2–3 h after, 80 mg verapamil oral administration. Portal and splanchnic hemodynamics including vessel diameters (mm), mean flow velocities (cm/s), blood flows (ml/min), Doppler indices such as pulsatility and resistive indices (PI and RI), were investigated before and after verapamil administration. Results: After verapamil administration; diameter of portal vein, splenic vein, and superior mesenteric artery (SMA) showed increase of 8%, 10%, and 7% (P < 0.05 to < 0.001), respectively. Increases of 20%, 38%, and 47% were found in blood flows (P < 0.05 to < 0.0001) with respect to the above vessels. Decreases of 17%, 10%, 11%, and 7% were found in SMA PI, SMA RI, splenic artery (SA) PI, and SA RI, respectively (P < 0.05 to < 0.0001). Conclusions: Verapamil appears to have splanchnic, portal, splenic, portocollateral and probably intrahepatic vasodilator effects in patients with advanced posthepatitic liver cirrhosis. Verapamil should be further investigated in the treatment of patients with advanced liver cirrhosis with prospective studies measuring portal and wedged hepatic pressure.     

门静脉高压CT征象与肝纤维化、肝硬化病理分期关系的探讨

目的 探讨肝纤维化、肝硬化门静脉高压的CT征象与病理分期的关系.方法 对经肝穿刺病理活检确诊的肝纤维化S1期12例、S2期14例、S3期9例、S4期13例、典型肝硬化16例以及20例对照组行16层螺旋CT上腹部3期增强容积扫描,于门静脉期最大密度投影(MIP)图像上分别测量门静脉左支、门静脉右支、门静脉主干(MPV)、脾静脉(SV)和肠系膜上静脉(SMV)的管径,并观察各组门静脉侧支循环开放情况及有无腹水和脾脏肿大,将上述指标与病理分期作对照研究.门静脉系统各血管管径的比较采用单因素方差分析,组间两两比较用SNK法;多组腹水及侧支循环发生率的比较采用R×C表x2检验,组间行x2分割计算;运用Logistic回归分析探讨门静脉系统中对肝纤维化病理分期影响最大的血管.结果 对照组门静脉左支、门静脉右支、MPV、SV和SMV的管径分别为(0.98 ±0.11)、(1.00±0.12)、(1.33±0.11)、(0.75±0.10)和(1.07±0.12)cm,脾脏体积为(128.55±30.56)cm<'3>,无侧支循环开放和腹水.S1、S2、S3期组、S4期组或早期肝硬化组、典型肝硬化组SV管径逐渐增大,分别为(0.86±0.12)、(0.96±0.11)、(1.07±0.08)、(1.09±0.10)和(1.18±0.19)cm,各组与对照组间比较,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05),重度肝纤维化(S3期组和S4期组)、典型肝硬化以及轻度肝纤维化(S1期组和S2期组)间差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05).Logistic回归分析显示,在门静脉各血管测量指标中,SV的标准化回归系数最大(2.719),且差异有统计学意义(P<0.01).典型肝硬化的侧支循环开放及腹水发生率明显高于正常肝脏和肝纤维化各期,S4期的侧支循环出现率明显高于对照组、S1期组及S2期组.结论 当慢性肝病发展至重度肝纤维化或早期肝硬化时,CT检查有助于早期诊断.     

Intraportal venous flow distribution: evaluation with single breath-hold ECG-triggered three-dimensional half-Fourier fast spin-echo MR imaging and a selective inversion-recovery tagging pulse.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the intraportal blood flow distribution from splenic and superior mesenteric veins with an unenhanced MR angiographic technique using single breath-hold ECG-triggered three-dimensional (3D) half-Fourier fast spin-echo sequence and selective inversion-recovery tagging pulse. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Seventeen healthy volunteers were included in this prospective study. After obtaining regular single breath-hold ECG-triggered 3D half-Fourier fast spin-echo images without applying a tagging pulse, we placed the selective inversion-recovery tagging pulse on the superior mesenteric vein (TAG-A), the splenic vein (TAG-B), or on both (TAG-C) to study the inflow correlation of tagged or marked blood into the portal vein. MR images were evaluated subjectively by three reviewers. RESULTS: On MR images obtained using the TAG-A pulse to suppress the signal flow from the superior mesenteric vein into the portal vein, the most common pattern of signal loss was observed on the right half of the main portal vein (8/17 subjects). Conversely, on the MR images obtained using the TAG-B pulse, signal loss of the left half of the main portal vein was the most common pattern (11/17 subjects). Signal reduction from the splenic venous flow in the left portal vein was significantly greater than that from the superior mesenteric venous flow (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The unenhanced MR angiographic technique using single breath-hold ECG-triggered 3D half-Fourier fast spin echo with selective inversion-recovery tagging pulse has the potential to assess the intraportal blood flow distribution from the splenic and superior mesenteric veins.