MR MEASUREMENTS OF MESENTERIC VENOUS FLOW - PROSPECTIVE EVALUATION IN HEALTHY-VOLUNTEERS AND PATIENTS WITH SUSPECTED CHRONIC MESENTERIC ISCHEMIA

PURPOSE: To quantify portal vein (PV) and superior mesenteric vein (SMV) flow before and after a standardized meal in healthy volunteers and to prospectively evaluate patients with a clinical suspicion of chronic mesenteric ischemia on the basis of magnetic resonance (MR) measurement of flow in the mesenteric venous system in volunteers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cine phase-contrast now measurements were acquired in 10 asymptomatic volunteers and in 10 patients. RESULTS: In volunteers, the difference between the fasting and postprandial flows in the SMV and PV was significant (P <.001), with a peak flow augmentation of 245% +/- 74 and 70% +/- 29, respectively. Postprandial augmentation of peak flow in the SMV was significantly less in patients with mesenteric ischemia compared with volunteers (64% +/- 28; P =.02). SMV flow augmentation in patients without mesenteric ischemia did not differ significantly from that in volunteers (206% +/- 36; P =.31). CONCLUSION: Measurement of postprandial flow augmentation in the SMV with MR imaging shows promise as a noninvasive screening test for chronic mesenteric ischemia.