MR angiography in portal hypertension: state of the art

When imaging the portal vascular system colour-coded sonography and CT angiography are used as an alternative to intraarterial DSA. Today fast CE 3D- MRA is the imaging modality of choice in the diagnostic of patients with portal hypertension. It enables a clear picture of the portalvenous vascular system and portalsystemic shunts. Statements regarding velocity and direction of blood flow can be made with additional use of TOF and PC techniques. CE-3D MRA can be used preoperatively before liver transplantation or shunt surgery. In the follow-up of interventional or surgical procedures exact statements concerning haemodynamically significant pathologies e.g. vascular thromboses, stenoses and occlusions can be made. Patient consent is symplify and the numbers of complications can be reduced as well as duration of surgery minimized applying this technique (orig.)