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MRI of Budd-Chiari syndrome

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Abstract

A retrospective study was undertaken to reassess the various magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS). MRI examinations of 22 patients with pathologically confirmed BCS were studied. Spin-echo (SE) T1- (TR = 300–450 ms/TE = 12–15 ms), and SE T2-weighted (TR = 1600–2000 ms/TE = 30–60/90–120 ms) MRI images were obtained in all patients. Gradient-recalled-echo (GRE) images (TR = 7–60 ms/TE = 3–19 ms, flip angle = 10–40°) were obtained in 14 patients. MRI showed thrombosis of three or two hepatic veins in 19 (86%) and 3 (14%) patients, respectively. Spontaneous intrahepatic anastomoses was depicted in five (23%) patients. Ascites appeared in 15 patients (68%). Thrombosis or external compression of the inferior vena cava (IVC) by an enlarged caudate lobe was depicted in six (27%) and five (23%) patients, respectively. Prominent azygos and hemiazygos veins were demonstrated in seven (32%) patients (six of whom had thrombosis of the IVC). MRI showed hepatomegaly in all patients and enlarged caudate lobe in 18 (82%) patients. SE T1- and SE T2-weighted MRI images revealed inhomogeneous signal intensity of hepatic parenchyma in 14 (64%) patients. SE T1- and SE T2-weighted MRI images showed homogeneous signal intensity of hepatic parenchyma in eight (36%) patients. Our results demonstrate that BCS displays various features on MRI images, and such information is important for diagnosis.

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Author notes

  1. P. Soyer

    Present address: Department of Radiology, Hôpital Foch, 40 Rue Worth, F-92151, Suresnes Cedex, France

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Hopital Louis Mourier, F-92701, Colombes Cedex, France

    P. Soyer, A. Rabenandrasana & M. Levesque

  2. Department of Pathology, Hopital Louis Mourier, F-92701, Colombes Cedex, France

    J. Barge

  3. Department of Surgery, Hopital Louis Mourier, F-92701, Colombes Cedex, France

    G. Zeitoun & J.-M. Hay

  4. Department of Radiology, Hopital Bichat, F-75018, Paris, France

    J. P. Laissy

Authors
  1. P. Soyer
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  2. A. Rabenandrasana
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  3. J. Barge
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  4. J. P. Laissy
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  5. G. Zeitoun
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  6. J.-M. Hay
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  7. M. Levesque
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Soyer, P., Rabenandrasana, A., Barge, J. et al. MRI of Budd-Chiari syndrome. Abdom Imaging 19, 325–329 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00198189

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00198189

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