[en] This paper compares the sensitivity and specificity of MR imaging in identifying intravascular thrombus with spin-echo (SE) images alone, gradient-echo (GRE) images alone, and SE plus GRE images. In 58 patients, 233 veins in the abdominal region were reviewed in a blinded manner by three radiologists using seven levels of certitude for the diagnosis of thrombus. Corroborative studies, available in all cases, proved thrombosis in 75 vessels and flow patency in the other 158. Receiver operating characteristic curves were constructed for the accuracy of the distinction between thrombus and flow signal for SE images alone, GRE images alone, and SE plus GRE images

[en] In this paper to analyze the pitfalls in spin-echo (SE) and gradient-echo (GE) MR imaging, the authors selected the interpretational errors that occurred in a prospective study of 292 abdominal veins (95 thrombosed and 197 patent veins). False-negative diagnoses were related to intermediate or low signal intensity of thrombi with Se, intermediate signal intensity of thrombi with GRE, and nonidentification of small thrombi. False-positive diagnoses were related to ambiguous signal intensity of patient veins with SE and GRE, artifacts from ferromagnetic clips with GRE, and incorrect identification of small patent veins. Distinct patterns of pitfalls are presented and an optimal strategy with a combination of SE and GRE images is proposed