[Use of magnetic resonance in patients with portal hypertension before and after diversion intervention. Initial experience in 15 cases].

Fifteen patients with portal hypertension were examined by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using spin-echo sequences. Sagittal and transaxial images were obtained in all cases. Ten subjects have been evaluated after portosystemic shunt operations (6 portocaval and 4 splenorenal shunts); 5 patients were studied by MRI before shunt placements. Angiographic correlation was obtained in 15 cases. In each of the preoperative examinations, MRI accurately depicted inferior vena cava, portal vein and splenic vein. Shunt patency was documented in 10/10 postoperative studies: portacaval shunts patency was better determined in the transaxial plane while splenorenal shunts were better demonstrated in the sagittal plane. Thus, MRI seems to be an accurate and noninvasive method for detecting portosystemic shunt patency without the use of intravenous contrast media and without patient exposure to radiation.