Two-dimensional time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography in the coronal plane for abdominal disease: its usefulness and comparison with conventional angiography.

Using two-dimensional time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography (2D-TOF MRA) in the coronal plane, 54 cases of arterial disease and 46 cases of venous disease were evaluated. The results were compared with those of conventional angiography to establish their relative usefulness for diagnosing abdominal diseases. Using 2D-TOF MRA, relatively large vessels such as the splenic artery, the trunks of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) and the renal artery were clearly visualized. However, smaller vessels such as the gastroduodenal artery, main hepatic artery, branches of the SMA and the renal artery were not clearly imaged. The diameters of stenotic arteries correlated well with their images on conventional angiography (r = 0.953). In the venous system, the splenic, renal and portal veins and the first branches of the portal vein bilaterally were clearly imaged. Veins, normal or abnormal, less that 5 mm in diameter were not clearly imaged using 2D-TOF MRA. 2D-TOF MRA in the coronal plane provided useful diagnostic information, especially regarding venous diseases, tumour thrombi in the portal vein, renal vein or inferior vena cava (IVC), collateral vessels or shunts, vascular malformations, and the relationships between the portal and hepatic veins. Limitations encountered in arterial disease did not interfere with evaluations of venous disease.