The creation of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is a widely performed technique to relieve portal hypertension, and to manage recurrent variceal bleeding and refractory ascites in patients where medical and/or endoscopic treatments have failed. However, portosystemic shunt creation can be challenging in the presence of chronic portal vein occlusion. In this case report, we describe a minimally invasive endovascular mesocaval shunt creation with transsplenic approach for the management of recurrent variceal bleeding in a portal hypertension patient with intra- and extrahepatic portal vein occlusion.
Adolescent ; Chronic Disease ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices/complications ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices/diagnostic imaging ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices/therapy ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/complications ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/diagnostic imaging ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/therapy ; Humans ; Jejunum/pathology ; Portacaval Shunt, Surgical ; Portal Vein/diagnostic imaging ; Portal Vein/pathology ; Portal Vein/surgery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome ; Venous Thrombosis/complications ; Venous Thrombosis/diagnostic imaging ; Venous Thrombosis/therapy

Neurofibromas can occur anywhere in the body, but they usually involve the head, neck, pelvis, and extremities. Abdominal visceral involvement is rare, and intrahepatic involvement is even less common. We describe a patient who suffered from plexiform neurofibromatosis with liver involvement. A 49-year-old man, who had previously been diagnosed with neurofibromatosis, underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy and abdominal ultrasonography for screening purposes. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy showed grade 2 esophageal varices and abdominal ultrasonography showed conglomerated nodules with echogenic appearances in the perihepatic space. Magnetic resonance imaging showed presumed plexiform neurofibroma involving the lesser sac and hepatic hilum and encasing the common hepatic artery celiac trunk and superior mesenteric artery left portal triad. We report an unusual case of portal hypertension attributed to the compressive narrowing of the portal vein by presumed as plexiform neurofibroma at the lesser sac and hepatic hilum.
Abdomen/diagnostic imaging ; Endoscopy, Digestive System ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices/pathology ; Hepatic Artery/diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Hypertension, Portal/*diagnosis ; Liver/diagnostic imaging ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neurofibroma, Plexiform/*diagnosis/diagnostic imaging ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography

Recent studies suggest that liver cirrhosis is reversible after administering oral nucleos(t)ide analogue therapy to patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. However, few studies have addressed whether esophageal varices can regress after such therapy. We report a case of complete regression of esophageal varices during entecavir therapy in patients with HBV-related liver cirrhosis, suggesting that complications of liver cirrhosis such as esophageal varices can regress after the long-term suppression of HBV replication.
Abdomen/diagnostic imaging ; Antiviral Agents/*therapeutic use ; DNA, Viral/blood ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices/complications/prevention & control ; Guanine/*analogs & derivatives/therapeutic use ; Hepatitis B virus/genetics ; Hepatitis B, Chronic/complications/*drug therapy/virology ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis/*diagnosis/etiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Ultrasonography

Some recent studies have found regression of liver cirrhosis after antiviral therapy in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related liver cirrhosis, but there have been no reports of complete regression of esophageal varices after interferon/peg-interferon and ribavirin combination therapy. We describe two cases of complete regression of esophageal varices and splenomegaly after interferon-alpha and ribavirin combination therapy in patients with HCV-related liver cirrhosis. Esophageal varices and splenomegaly regressed after 3 and 8 years of sustained virologic responses in cases 1 and 2, respectively. To our knowledge, this is the first study demonstrating that complications of liver cirrhosis, such as esophageal varices and splenomegaly, can regress after antiviral therapy in patients with HCV-related liver cirrhosis.
Abdomen/diagnostic imaging ; Antiviral Agents/*therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Endoscopy, Digestive System ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices/complications/prevention & control ; Female ; Hepatitis C/complications/*drug therapy ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha/*therapeutic use ; Liver Cirrhosis/*etiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polyethylene Glycols/*therapeutic use ; Recombinant Proteins/therapeutic use ; Ribavirin/*therapeutic use ; Splenomegaly/complications/prevention & control ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography

Variceal bleeding occurs primarily in the esophagus or stomach in patients with liver cirrhosis, but can also occur rarely in the duodenum. Duodenal variceal bleeding has a high mortality and poor prognosis due to heavy blood flow originating from the portal vein (PV) and the technical difficulty of hemostatic procedures. Treatments including endoscopic sclerotherapy, endoscopic ligations, endoscopic clipping and transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt have been tried, with only moderate and variable success. A percutaneous transsplenic approach offers another way of accessing the PV. Here we report a case of successfully treated duodenal variceal bleeding by percutaneous transsplenic embolization.
Aged ; Duodenum ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices/complications/*diagnosis ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/*therapy ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis/complications/*diagnosis ; Male ; Portal Vein/diagnostic imaging ; *Portasystemic Shunt, Transjugular Intrahepatic ; Recurrence ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

We herein report the use of endoscopic n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate injections to obliterate a gastric varix, which led to cyanoacrylate embolisation in the splenic and portal veins in a single patient. Cyanoacrylate embolisation is a known but uncommonly reported complication of endoscopic sclerotherapy. This case report illustrates the successful management of this complication (i.e. cyanoacrylate embolisation in the splenic and portal veins) with anticoagulation and analyses the presentation and management of other cases of cyanoacrylate embolisation reported in the literature.
Aged ; Anticoagulants ; chemistry ; therapeutic use ; Blood Pressure ; Cyanoacrylates ; chemistry ; Embolism ; chemically induced ; diagnostic imaging ; therapy ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Injections ; Male ; Portal Vein ; pathology ; Sclerotherapy ; Splenic Vein ; pathology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography, Doppler

Splenic arteriovenous fistula (SAVF) is an unusual cause of portal hypertension, and is rarely associated with an infective aetiology. It is often difficult to identify SAVF clinically, and thus, radiological modalities are invariably required for diagnosis and treatment. We herein describe a case of SAVF occurring in a patient with compensated cirrhosis as a sequel to salmonella gastroenteritis, and presenting with acute gastric variceal bleeding. Selective transcatheter embolisation of the splenic artery was effective in controlling bleeding.
Adult ; Angiography ; Arteriovenous Fistula ; diagnostic imaging ; microbiology ; therapy ; Colonoscopy ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; methods ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices ; etiology ; Gastroenteritis ; microbiology ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; etiology ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; microbiology ; Male ; Salmonella Infections ; microbiology ; Splenic Artery ; abnormalities ; diagnostic imaging ; Splenic Vein ; abnormalities ; diagnostic imaging ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical value of multi-slice spiral computed tomography portography (MSCTP) in assessing severity of liver cirrhosis and predicting episode risks of hepatic encephalopathy (HE).

METHODSEighty-six patients with liver cirrhosis who were hospitalized in the Department of Gastroenterology at the Affiliated Hospital of Yan'an University were included in the study.All patients underwent 64-slice MSCTP to grade the portal vein anatomy.The West Haven criteria were used for semi-quantitative assessment of each patient's mental state.The Child-Pugh grading system was used to assess the extent of cirrhosis.Comparison of measurement data between multiple groups was made by one-way ANOVA analysis, and comparison of such between two groups was made by the Mann-Whitney U test, Ranked data were compared with the rank-sum test, and count data were compared by the Chi-Square test.Correlation analysis was performed with Spearman's correlation test.

RESULTSComparison of the HE grade III group and the HE grade I group showed significant differences between the two in the diameters of left gastric vein, the splenic vein, the intrahepatic left portal vein and the intrahepatic right portal vein (P less than 0.05).Comparison of the Child-Pugh grade C group and the Child-Pugh grade A group showed significant differences between the two in diameters of the left gastric vein, the splenic vein, the intrahepatic left portal vein and the intrahepatic right portal vein (P less than 0.05).The diameters of the main portal vein were not significantly different between the ChildPugh grades and HE classifications (P more than 0.05).The results of MSCTP did show significant differences between different HE classifications in patients with liver cirrhosis and the rate of formation of portal vein thrombosis and fistulas of the hepatic artery-portal vein (P less than 0.05), .but no significant differences with the esophageal and gastric varices, varicose veins around the esophagus, and periumbilical varicose veins (P more than 0.05).HE classification was significantly correlated with formation of portal vein thrombosis and fistula of the hepatic artery-portal vein (r=0.687, P less than 0.05 and r=0.565, P less than 0.05, respectively).MSCTP grading (grade 1:n=35, grade 2:n=36, grade 3:n=15) was not correlated with the Child-Pugh grade (grade A:n=36, grade B:n=32, grade C:n=18) (Z=-0.135, P more than 0.05).Incidence of HE was significantly different among the different MSCTP grades (grade 1:0%(0), grade 2:33.3% (12/36), grade 3:66.7% (10/15); x2=26.468, P less than 0.05).The MSCTP grade was significantly correlated with the episode risks of HE (r=0.552, P less than 0.05).

CONCLUSIONMSCTP may be valuable for assessing severity of liver cirrhosis and for predicting episode risks of HE; however, future studies with larger sample numbers is required for validation of our findings.

Esophageal and Gastric Varices ; Hepatic Encephalopathy ; etiology ; Hepatic Veins ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Portal Vein ; Portography ; Risk Factors ; Tomography, Spiral Computed

OBJECTIVETo observe the prognostic value of Medical Image Three-dimensional (3D) Visualization System (MI-3DVS) in evaluation of the distribution and blood supply of gastroesophageal varices (EGV).

METHODS3D reconstruction was played by MI-3DVS and CT-maximum intensity projection (CT-MIP) respectively on multi slice computed tomography (MSCT) date of 51 patients with EGV from February 2010 to October 2012. The demonstration rate of collateral vessels in spleen and stomach area, EGV typing and the blood supply between the two methods were observed and compared.

RESULTSThe demonstration rates of LGV, gastro-renal shunt, splenorenal shunt and PGV showed a high coincidence between the MI-3DVS and CT-MIP (κ = 0.882-1.000), and moderate agreements in SGV and paraesophageal varices (κ = 0.646 and 0.757). The outcome of EGV classification (MI-3DVS vs. CT-MIP) were typeIfor 31 vs. 28 cases, type II for 6 vs. 4 cases, type III for 4 vs. 4 cases and type IV for 6 vs.10 cases, the 2 methods show high agreements (weighted Kappa value of 0.848 and P < 0.01).Significant differences were found in the blood supply distribution among the four types of EGV (χ(2) = 36.647, P < 0.01); and the blood supply of the EGV tended to be a strong correlation with EGV classification (C = 0.769 and 0.744, P = 0.000). There were 12 patients with gastro-renal shunt and 5 patients with Spleno-renal shunt.

CONCLUSIONSMI-3DVS can explicitly determine the location, blood vessel diameter and blood supply of the EGV, which is helpful for us to grab the formation of collateral circulation completely. The 3D reconstruction of MI-3DVS has guidance and current significance in optimizing therapeutic schedule or preoperative planning.

Adult ; Aged ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

This study sought to determine the value of portal venography with 64-slice MDCT in the evaluation of compensatory circulation resulting from decompensated posthepatitic cirrhosis (PHC), and in the clarification of its anatomic distribution. Thirty-six patients with clinically confirmed compensatory circulations resulting from PHC were enrolled in this study. They underwent thoracicoabdominal triphasic enhancement CT scans with 64-slice MDCT. The data of the portal venous phase acquired were used for obtaining CT-MIP (maximum intensity projection) images of portosystematic collaterals such as gastric fundic and esophageal varices, paraumbilical veins, spleno-renal shunts, and their inflowing and outflowing vessels. On CT-MIP portography, gastric fundic varices were shown in 35 cases (97%) and esophageal varices in 30 cases (83%). The left gastric vein was the common inflowing vessel of the varices in 34 cases (94%); it was mainly originated from splenic vein in 24 cases (67%). With regard to the outflowing vessels, they were commonly azygos vein in 30 cases (83%). As for paraumbilical veins in 7 cases (19%), the inflowing vessel was the left branch of portal vein, and the outflowing vesse was the superficial epigastric vein. Cavernous transformation of the portal vein was seen in 5 cases (14%) and cavernous transformation of splenic vein was seen in 16 cases (44%). CT-MIP venography with 64-row MDCT could be considered as an effective and noninvasive method for detecting the compensatory circulation resulting from decompensated PHC.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Collateral Circulation ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices ; diagnostic imaging ; epidemiology ; Female ; Hepatitis B ; complications ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; diagnostic imaging ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Portal Vein ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Portography ; methods ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; methods