Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 6, 2026

Anatomical Reconstructions of the Human Cardiac Venous System using Contrast-computed Tomography of Perfusion-fixed Specimens
06:02

Anatomical Reconstructions of the Human Cardiac Venous System using Contrast-computed Tomography of Perfusion-fixed Specimens

Published on: April 18, 2013

Central veins of the chest: evaluation with time-resolved MR angiography

Charles Y Kim1, Rizvan A Mirza, Joshua A Bryant

  • 1Department of Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, 2301 Erwin Rd, Box 3808, Durham, NC 27710, USA.

Radiology
|March 20, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Time-resolved MR angiography improves central vein stenosis detection. Adding time-resolved images to high-resolution scans enhances specificity and reader confidence for venous occlusions.

Area of Science:

  • Radiology
  • Medical Imaging
  • Vascular Imaging

Background:

  • Central venous stenoses and occlusions can lead to significant patient morbidity.
  • Accurate diagnostic imaging is crucial for timely intervention and management.
  • Magnetic resonance (MR) venography offers a non-invasive approach to visualize central veins.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the diagnostic performance of time-resolved MR angiography in detecting central venous stenoses and occlusions.
  • To compare the utility of time-resolved images alone versus in combination with high-spatial-resolution images.
  • To assess the impact on reader confidence and interpretation time.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of 27 patients undergoing MR venography of central veins.
  • Six radiologists interpreted studies using time-resolved maximum intensity projection (MIP) images, high-spatial-resolution images, or both.
  • Sensitivity, specificity, reader confidence, and interpretation time were calculated.

Main Results:

  • Combining time-resolved and high-spatial-resolution images improved specificity for venous occlusions (0.99 vs 0.96) and reader confidence (P < .001).
  • The combined approach significantly enhanced the ability to determine the side of contrast injection (83% vs 32%, P < .001).
  • Time-resolved angiography alone showed high sensitivity (0.95) but moderate specificity (0.56) for stenoses/occlusions.

Conclusions:

  • Time-resolved MR angiography is a valuable adjunct to high-spatial-resolution imaging for evaluating central venous stenoses and occlusions.
  • The combined imaging technique improves diagnostic accuracy and reader confidence without increasing interpretation time.
  • This approach aids in better characterization of central venous pathology.
Abstract

More Related Videos

A Multicenter MRI Protocol for the Evaluation and Quantification of Deep Vein Thrombosis10:26

A Multicenter MRI Protocol for the Evaluation and Quantification of Deep Vein Thrombosis

Published on: June 2, 2015

Two-Dimensional X-Ray Angiography to Examine Fine Vascular Structure Using a Silicone Rubber Injection Compound05:26

Two-Dimensional X-Ray Angiography to Examine Fine Vascular Structure Using a Silicone Rubber Injection Compound

Published on: January 7, 2019

Related Concept Videos

Venous Thrombosis II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies01:20

Venous Thrombosis II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies

The key difference between Superficial Vein Thrombosis (SVT) and Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) lies in their location and severity.Clinical ManifestationsSVT typically presents with localized pain, tenderness, and redness along the course of a superficial vein, often accompanied by a palpable, cord-like structure under the skin. This condition is usually less dangerous than DVT but can be uncomfortable and may lead to complications such as cellulitis or, rarely, a clot extension into the deep...
Radiological Investigation III: Pulmonary Angiogram and PET Scan01:13

Radiological Investigation III: Pulmonary Angiogram and PET Scan

Radiological investigations are paramount in the diagnosis and management of various pulmonary diseases. Two essential investigations are the Pulmonary Angiogram and the Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scan.
Pulmonary Angiogram
A Pulmonary Angiogram is an invasive procedure involving injecting a contrast medium through a catheter threaded into the pulmonary artery or the right side of the heart to visualize the pulmonary vasculature. Computed Tomography (CT) scans have mainly replaced this...
Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System III: X-Ray01:20

Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System III: X-Ray

The most common cardiovascular diagnostic test is an X-ray. It produces images of the heart, blood vessels, and adjacent structures.
Definition and Purpose
An X-ray, or radiograph, is a non-invasive method that uses ionizing radiation to take images of internal structures. It is mainly used in cardiac imaging to examine the heart, lungs, and major blood vessels, aiming to identify abnormalities in the heart's size, shape, and position, such as heart failure, congenital defects, and vascular...
Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System IV: CMRI01:21

Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System IV: CMRI

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging, or CMRI, is a non-invasive diagnostic test that employs a magnetic field and radiofrequency waves to create precise images of the heart and arteries. It provides comprehensive information about cardiac anatomy, function, perfusion, and tissue characterization without ionizing radiation.IndicationsCMRI diagnoses various heart conditions, including tissue damage from heart attacks, ischemic heart disease, myocarditis, aortic issues (tears, aneurysms,...
Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System V: CT01:28

Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System V: CT

Cardiac computed tomography (CT) scanning is an advanced cardiac imaging technique that utilizes CT technology, with or without intravenous (IV) contrast, to produce accurate cross-sectional virtual slices of specific areas of the heart, coronary circulation, and major blood vessels such as the aorta, pulmonary veins, and arteries. The computer processes these slices to generate three-dimensional images. Multidetector CT (MDCT) is a rapid form of CT scanning that captures multiple slices...
Overview of Systemic Veins01:11

Overview of Systemic Veins

Systemic veins are crucial blood vessels that return deoxygenated blood from various body tissues back to the heart. There are three systemic veins that return deoxygenated blood to the heart, they are as follows.
The coronary sinus, the heart's principal vein, resides in the coronary sulcus on the heart's posterior aspect. This broad venous channel receives nearly all venous blood from the myocardium, the heart muscle. It is fed by three primary veins: the great cardiac vein, the middle...