Abdominal Applications of 4D Flow MRI

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Cardiovascular Imaging
• Radiology

Background:

• Four-dimensional flow MRI (4D flow MRI) provides volumetric, time-resolved blood flow data.
• This review focuses on the non-invasive assessment of abdominal hemodynamics using 4D flow MRI.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an overview of the applications of 4D flow MRI in abdominal hemodynamics.
• To highlight the potential of 4D flow MRI in understanding and managing abdominal diseases.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of PubMed database (December 2019) focusing on abdominal 4D flow MRI applications.
• Inclusion of clinical case examples with figures and movies from the authors' institution.

Main Results:

• 4D flow MRI allows comprehensive visualization of abdominal vasculature.
• It enables quantification of blood flow velocities and rates in abdominal vessels.
• Studies suggest 4D flow MRI improves understanding of altered hemodynamics in abdominal disease.

Conclusions:

• 4D flow MRI offers a complete assessment of abdominal blood flow across various vascular territories and organs.
• The technique shows promise for monitoring therapeutic responses in abdominal diseases.
• Further validation studies in larger cohorts are necessary for routine clinical integration.