Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 7, 2025
Image Acquisition Method for the Sonographic Assessment of the Inferior Vena Cava
Published on: January 13, 2023
Budd-Chiari Syndrome: The "inferior vena cava reverse-flow" sign and "jet-blood" sign on CT and MRI
Jianzeng Zhang1, Cuie Liu2, Zeng Zheng1
1Radiology Department of Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.
Objective:
To investigate the CT and MR features of "inferior vena cava(IVC) reverse-flow" sign and "jet-blood" sign in Budd-Chiari Syndrome (BCS).
Methods:
The liver CT and/or MRI plain scan and dynamic enhancement of 107 cases of BCS diagnosed by DSA and/or clinic were collected, including 17 patients with hepatic vein obstruction type, 79 patients with IVC obstruction type, and 11 patients with mixed type. The manifestations of IVC reverse-flow sign and jet-blood sign in the latter two type BCS (90cases) imaging were analyzed.
Results:
1) The incidence of IVC reverse-flow sign in the IVC obstruction type and mixed type was 93.3 %(83/90), which was manifested as: The contrast agent was shown below the level of renal veins in the hepatic arterial phase enhancement, while no contrast agent was shown above it at the same time. 2) The incidence of jet-blood sign in membrane-perforated subtype was 100 %(15/15) or 16.7 %(15/90), which was manifested as: The low density/signal dots appeared within full of contrast agent at the superior liver segment IVC on axial slices in arterial phase of CT/MRI enhancement, or the low signal line within agent presented above the IVC membrane on coronal image in equilibrium phase of MR enhancement. 3) Other imaging findings: 75 cases of membrane, 18 cases of membrane calcification, 27 cases of abnormal hepatic vein, 76 cases of abnormal structure of IVC, 18 cases of thrombus/cancer embolus in hepatic vein and/or IVC. There were 65 cases of abnormal liver appearance; 71 cases of abnormal liver enhancement; 21 cases of hepatic vein unsynchronous enhancement. Anastomotic branches among the hepatic veins open with comma sign in 54 cases; dilatation of intraspinal and paravertebral veins, azygos and hemiazygos veins in 90 cases(100 %, 90/90) or 96 cases(89.7 %, 96/107).
Conclusions:
The "IVC reverse-flow" sign is a specific CT and MR sign of IVC type and mixed type BCS, and the "jet-blood" sign is a characteristic CT and MR sign of membrane-perforated subtype BCS.
Related Concept Videos
01:20Venous Thrombosis II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies
01:18Veins of the Abdomen and Pelvis
The inferior vena cava is fed by numerous smaller veins. The lumbar veins, for instance, drain the posterior abdominal wall, emptying both directly into the inferior vena cava and into the...
01:28Esophageal Varices-II: Clinical Features and Management
In the initial assessment, a thorough review of the patient's medical history is vital to identify risk factors such as liver disease, alcohol...
01:11Overview of Systemic Veins
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...
01:19Veins of Thorax
The azygos vein, positioned just right of the midline and anterior to the vertebral column, begins at the junction of the right ascending lumbar and subcostal veins, terminating in the superior vena cava. This vein drains blood from the right side of the thoracic wall, thoracic viscera, and posterior abdominal wall.
The...
01:20Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System II:Types of Echocardiography
Types of Echocardiography
Transthoracic Echocardiography (TTE)
TTE is the most common type of echocardiogram which involves placing a transducer on the patient's chest, emitting sound waves to create heart images. TTE is invaluable for evaluating the heart's size, structure, and motion, making it particularly useful for...