Using non-contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance venography for the evaluation of May-Thurner syndrome in patients with renal insufficiency: A case report

RATIONALE: Contrast-enhanced computed tomographic venography (CTV) or magnetic resonance venography (MRV) are usually used to detect May-Thurner syndrome (MTS). However, both are associated with contrast-induced nephrotoxicity. For patients who cannot receive contrast media, non-contrast-enhanced MRV using three-dimensional (3D) turbo spin-echo (TSE) is considered an alternative. We report a case of MTS to describe its clinical utility and advantages. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 49-year-old male experienced isolated left leg swelling and pain for half a month. He had a history of chronic renal insufficiency that made contrast-enhanced imaging studies inadequate. DIAGNOSES: A lower extremity venous Duplex scan showed a thrombus extending from the left distal femoral vein to the popliteal vein with valvular reflux, consistent with infrainguinal deep vein thrombosis (DVT). The suprainguinal DVT was evaluated by non-contrast-enhanced MRV. The results showed sandwich external compression of the left common iliac vein between the right common iliac artery and lumbar vertebrae, consistent with DVT of the left common iliac vein caused by MTS. INTERVENTIONS: The patient received angioplasty with the implantation of a balloon-expandable stent over the left common iliac vein. OUTCOMES: Excellent recanalization of the left iliac vein was noted postoperatively. LESSONS: In the evaluation of suprainguinal venous lesions, non-contrast-enhanced MRV presents the venous structure alone at high resolution without the accompanying arterial structure, which makes it an excellent diagnostic imaging tool for MTS. These findings indicate that non-contrast-enhanced MRV could be useful for detecting systemic venous pathologies in patients with renal insufficiency.