[MR angiography in the evaluation of endoscopic injection sclerotherapy for esophago-gastric varices].

We evaluated the utility of magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) for the detection of esophago-gastric varices and assessment of their therapeutic response to endoscopic injection sclerotherapy (EIS). MRA was performed in a total of 12 patients with esophago (E)-gastric (G) varices (V) (9 EV and 3 GV patients) both before and two-weeks after EIS. 25-35 horizontal images were obtained during single breath holding and data were reconstructed by using the two dimension time of flight method. MRA detected varicose lesions in all GV patients and in 7 of 8 EV patients of the grades F2 or higher. Varicose lesion in grade F1 EV patients were initially undetectable before EIS but became evident on MRA after EIS. The portal collaterals were equally well displayed by MRA and the superior mesenteric arteriography at its portogram phase. MRA and endoscopy were concordant for the disappearance or persistence of varicose lesions after EIS. We conclude that MRA is useful for the detection of esophago-gastric varices and other portal collaterals. MRA provides a non-invasive and workable technique in evaluation of patients with esophago-gastric varices undergoing EIS.