Comparative study on MRI features of acute and chronic Budd-Chiari syndrome

Abstract

Objective To investigate the features of Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and analyze the diagnostic value of MRI on acute and chronic Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS). Methods Eleven patients with acute BCS who were treated,while other 42 patients with proven chronic BCS were taken as chronic group.All patients in our study underwent MRI examinations.MRI findings were retrospectively studied.Comparison between groups was made by Wilcoxon W rank sum test for frequency of ascites and Fisher Exact Test for the percentage of intrahepatic venous collaterals and extrahepatic venous collaterals. Results Hepatic venous thrombosis with high signal on T 2WI was demonstrated in 11 patients with acute BCS,and 3 of them also had inferior vena cava thrombosis.Compared with the central liver,the periphery of the liver of all patients were moderately hypointensive on T 1WI and slightly hyperintensive on T 2WI,and the enhancement degree of liver periphery in venous phase and arterial phase was relatively low.In chronic group,9 of them had hepatic venous obstruction,3 had inferior vena cava obstruction,and 30 had both.All chronic BCS patients had the features of stasis cirrhosis.There was no signal difference between the periphery and the central of the liver on precontrast and postcontrast images.In acute group,all of them suffered from ascites (2 patients with a moderate amount of ascites,and 9 patients with massive ascites),2 of Key words: Budd-Chiari syndrome; Magnetic resonance imaging; Acute; Chronic; Hepatic vein thrombosis