Contrast-enhanced MR angiography of the epigastric and hepatic regions: visibility in three-dimensional...

We applied the Maximum Intensity Projection method (MIP method), volume rendering method (VR method) and Shading process in reconstruction of arteries, portal veins and hepatic veins using Contrast-enhanced MR Angiography (MRA) in the epigastric region and examined its usefulness. In addition, the visibility of tumor vessels in the liver was evaluated using original images.

The subjects were 85 patients. Abdominal dynamic imaging was performed using the efgre3d sequence. We reconstructed MRA for stereoscopic images using the MIP, VR, or VR + Shading process method and evaluated the visibility rates and score of each artery, portal vein and hepatic vein. The visibility of tumor vessels in the liver was also evaluated from original images obtained using MRA.

In the arterial phase, the VR method and shading process yielded greater visibility than the MIP method. The average score was highest in the shading process followed by the VR method, and then the MIP method. In the portal phase, there was little difference in visibility among the reconstruction methods. The average score with the MIP method was slightly, but not significantly, higher than with the VR method and Shading process. For the hepatic veins, visibility rates of each three-dimensional reconstruction image were markedly lower than in original images. Tumor vessels were visualized over 85% using MRA.

The VR method and Shading process were useful for evaluation of arteries. The MIP method was useful for evaluation of the portal vein. Original images were useful for evaluation of the hepatic veins. Contrast-enhanced MRA of the epigastric and hepatic regions was clinically quite useful in that it permitted evaluation of all vessels including arteries, portal vein and other veins throughout the liver as well as evaluation of tumor vessels.