Hepatic caudate vein in Budd-Chiari syndrome: depiction by using magnetic resonance imaging
Wei Tang1, Xiao Ming Zhang, Lin Yang
1Department of Radiology, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, Sichuan, PR China.
Insights
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) frequently visualizes the hepatic caudate vein. Budd-Chiari syndrome patients show more visible and dilated caudate veins compared to healthy individuals, aiding in diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Hepatology
- Vascular Imaging
Background:
- Budd-Chiari syndrome is a rare condition characterized by hepatic venous outflow obstruction.
- Accurate diagnosis is crucial for effective management and improved patient outcomes.
- Identifying specific imaging biomarkers can aid in differentiating Budd-Chiari syndrome from other liver diseases like cirrhosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the visibility and diameter of the hepatic caudate vein using MR imaging.
- To compare these findings between healthy subjects and patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome.
- To explore the correlation between caudate vein visibility and extrahepatic collaterals in Budd-Chiari syndrome.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of upper abdominal enhanced MRI scans.
- Inclusion of 14 patients diagnosed with Budd-Chiari syndrome.
- Inclusion of 54 healthy subjects without hepatic or liver disease as controls.
Main Results:
- The hepatic caudate vein was visualized in 64% of Budd-Chiari patients versus 7% of healthy subjects (P=0.000).
- Mean caudate vein diameter was significantly larger in Budd-Chiari patients (7.3±3.9 mm) compared to controls (2.6±0.6 mm) (P=0.037).
- No significant correlation was found between caudate vein visibility and extrahepatic collateral veins in Budd-Chiari patients (P=0.375).
Conclusions:
- Gadolinium-enhanced dynamic MR imaging is effective for visualizing the hepatic caudate vein.
- Increased visibility and dilation of the hepatic caudate vein on MR imaging are characteristic of Budd-Chiari syndrome.
- MR imaging findings of the hepatic caudate vein may assist in differentiating Budd-Chiari syndrome from cirrhosis.
Objective:
To study the visibility of the caudate vein and its diameter on MR imaging in healthy people and in patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome.
Materials And Methods:
In this study there were 14 patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome and 54 healthy subjects without hepatic lesion or liver disease, all of whom had upper abdominal enhanced MRI. The visibility of the caudate vein and its diameter on MR images was compared between Budd-Chiari patients and healthy subjects, and among Budd-Chiari patients, the correlation between the visibility of caudate vein and extrahepatic collaterals were compared.
Results:
Caudate vein was noted in 64% of patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome and in 7% of healthy subjects (P=0.000). The diameter of the caudate vein visualized on MR imaging in Budd-Chiari syndrome was significantly larger than that in healthy group (7.3±3.9 mm vs 2.6±0.6 mm, P=0.037). Among Budd-Chiari patients, both caudate vein and extrahepatic collateral veins were noted in 9 patients, only extrahepatic collateral veins were noted in 4 patients and neither caudate vein nor extrahepatic collateral veins were noted in 1 patient. No correlation was found between the visibility of caudate vein and that of extrahepatic collateral vein in patients with Budd-Chiari (P=0.375).
Conclusion:
Gadolinium enhanced dynamic MR imaging can visualize hepatic caudate vein frequently. The visibility and dilation of hepatic caudate veins on MR imaging in Budd-Chiari syndrome were more frequent than in control subjects. MR depiction of a caudate vein may help differentiate Budd-Chiari from cirrhosis.
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