Dynamic measurements of total hepatic blood flow with Phase Contrast MRI

• Published in: European journal of radiology Vol. 73; no. 1; pp. 119 - 124
• Main Authors: Yzet, Thierry, Bouzerar, Roger, Baledent, Olivier, Renard, Cedric, Lumbala, Didier Mbayo, Nguyen-Khac, Eric, Regimbeau, Jean-Marc, Deramond, H., Meyer, Marc-Etienne
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01.01.2010; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Digestive system; Female; Hepatic artery; Hepatic Artery - anatomy & histology; Hepatic Artery - physiology; Hepatic hemodynamics; Hepatic Veins - anatomy & histology; Hepatic Veins - physiology; Humans; Investigative techniques of hemodynamics; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Liver Circulation - physiology; Magnetic Resonance Angiography - methods; Male; Medical sciences; PC-MRI; Perfusion Imaging - methods; Portal vein; Radiodiagnosis. Nmr imagery. Nmr spectrometry; Radiology; Reproducibility of Results; Sensitivity and Specificity; Total hepatic flow; Hepatic artery; PC-MRI; Portal vein; Total hepatic flow; Hepatic hemodynamics; Human; Digestive system; Liver; Male; Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging; Dynamic method; Blood flow; Phase contrast; Blood vessel; Medical imagery; Adult; Circulatory system; Hemodynamics; Measurement method; PC-MR1
• ISSN: 0720-048X; 1872-7727; 1872-7727
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejrad.2008.09.032

To measure total hepatic blood flow including portal and proper hepatic artery flows as well as the temporal evolution of the vessel's section during a cardiac cycle. Twenty healthy subjects, with a mean age of 26 years, were explored. Magnetic resonance imaging blood flow measurements were carried out in the portal vein and the proper hepatic artery. MR studies were performed using a 1.5T imager (General Electric Medical Systems). Gradient-echo 2D Fast Cine Phase Contrast sequences were used with both cardiac and respiratory gatings. Data analysis was performed using a semi-automatic software built in our laboratory. The total hepatic flow rate measured was 1.35 ± 0.18 L/min or 19.7 ± 4.6 mL/(min kg). The proper hepatic artery provided 19.1% of the total hepatic blood flow entering the liver. Those measurements were in agreement with earlier studies using direct measurements. Mean and maximum velocities were also assessed and a discrepancy between our values and the literature's Doppler data was found. Measurements of the portal vein area have shown a mean variation, defined as a “pulsatility” index of 18% over a cardiac cycle. We report here proper hepatic artery blood flow rate measurements using MRI . Associated with portal flow measurements, we have shown the feasibility of total hepatic flowmetry using a non-invasive and harmless technique.