OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of non-contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (non-CE-MRA) using SPACE ("Sampling Perfection with Application optimized Contrasts using different flip angle Evolutions") in comparison with CE-MRA using volume interpolated breath-hold examination (VIBE) in the detection of portosystemic and portohepatic collaterals. METHODS: Thirty consecutively enrolled cirrhotic patients with suspicion of portosystemic and portohepatic collaterals underwent SPACE followed by VIBE at 1.5-T magnetic resonance imaging scanner. The contrast-to-noise ratio, signal-to-noise ratio, and scores of the portal vein segments and overall image were used to compare the diagnostic performance of SPACE with that of VIBE. The paired Student t test and the Wilcoxon signed rank test were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Diagnostic results of SPACE were equivalent to those of VIBE. However, both the signal-to-noise ratio and contrast-to-noise ratio of portal vein segments in the former were better than those in the latter (P < 0.0001), and the scores of displaying the portal vein distal branches in SPACE were higher than those in VIBE (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The SPACE has a comparable ability in demonstrating portosystemic and portohepatic collaterals as well as VIBE does.
OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of non-contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (non-CE-MRA) using SPACE ("Sampling Perfection with Application optimized Contrasts using different flip angle Evolutions") in comparison with CE-MRA using volume interpolated breath-hold examination (VIBE) in the detection of portosystemic and portohepatic collaterals. METHODS: Thirty consecutively enrolled cirrhotic patients with suspicion of portosystemic and portohepatic collaterals underwent SPACE followed by VIBE at 1.5-T magnetic resonance imaging scanner. The contrast-to-noise ratio, signal-to-noise ratio, and scores of the portal vein segments and overall image were used to compare the diagnostic performance of SPACE with that of VIBE. The paired Student t test and the Wilcoxon signed rank test were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Diagnostic results of SPACE were equivalent to those of VIBE. However, both the signal-to-noise ratio and contrast-to-noise ratio of portal vein segments in the former were better than those in the latter (P < 0.0001), and the scores of displaying the portal vein distal branches in SPACE were higher than those in VIBE (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The SPACE has a comparable ability in demonstrating portosystemic and portohepatic collaterals as well as VIBE does.