PURPOSE: To evaluate the difference in the caliber of cisterna chyli between patients with and without portal hypertension on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and to assess the alteration of the caliber of cisterna chyli related to contraction waves during serial T2-weighted MRI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 177 patients with and without portal hypertension who underwent two sets of T2-weighted MRI. MR images were evaluated for the visibility of cisterna chyli, the difference in the diameter of cisterna chyli between two patients groups, and the alteration in the diameter of cisterna chyli during serial T2-weighted MRI. RESULTS: The mean maximal diameter of cisterna chyli in patients with portal hypertension (4.97 ± 1.87 mm, range; 2.5-13.1 mm) was significantly larger (P < 0.001) than that in patients without portal hypertension (3.37 ± 1.25 mm, range; 1.5-6.8 mm). In 132 patients with visible cisterna chyli and portal hypertension, 25 (19%) patients had a positive caliber change of cisterna chyli of more than 2 mm between two sets of T2-weighted MR images. CONCLUSION: The dilatation of cisterna chyli can be demonstrated at MRI in patients with portal hypertension. Additionally, the positive caliber change of cisterna chyli related to contraction waves was observed in subsets of patients during serial T2-weighted MRI.
PURPOSE: To evaluate the difference in the caliber of cisterna chyli between patients with and without portal hypertension on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and to assess the alteration of the caliber of cisterna chyli related to contraction waves during serial T2-weighted MRI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 177 patients with and without portal hypertension who underwent two sets of T2-weighted MRI. MR images were evaluated for the visibility of cisterna chyli, the difference in the diameter of cisterna chyli between two patients groups, and the alteration in the diameter of cisterna chyli during serial T2-weighted MRI. RESULTS: The mean maximal diameter of cisterna chyli in patients with portal hypertension (4.97 ± 1.87 mm, range; 2.5-13.1 mm) was significantly larger (P < 0.001) than that in patients without portal hypertension (3.37 ± 1.25 mm, range; 1.5-6.8 mm). In 132 patients with visible cisterna chyli and portal hypertension, 25 (19%) patients had a positive caliber change of cisterna chyli of more than 2 mm between two sets of T2-weighted MR images. CONCLUSION: The dilatation of cisterna chyli can be demonstrated at MRI in patients with portal hypertension. Additionally, the positive caliber change of cisterna chyli related to contraction waves was observed in subsets of patients during serial T2-weighted MRI.