Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) secondary to blunt abdominal trauma associated with liver injury is extremely rare in healthy individuals as well as in minor liver injury, and it carries a high rate of morbidity and mortality. Moreover, acute asymptomatic PVT is difficult to diagnose. We present a young trauma patient with isolated minor liver injury associated with acute PVT. A 27-year-old man presented to the emergency department after a motor vehicle collision. His primary survey findings were unremarkable. His secondary survey showed a large contusion (7 × 7 cm²) at the epigastrium with marked tenderness and localized guarding. The CT angiography of the whole abdomen revealed liver injury grade 3 in hepatic segments 2/3 and 4b (according to the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma classification) extending near the porta hepatis with patent hepatic and portal veins and without other solid organ injury. The follow-up CT of the whole abdomen on post-injury day 7 showed a 1.8-cm thrombus in the left portal vein with patent right portal and hepatic veins, and a decreased size of the hepatic lacerations. A liver function test was repeated on post-injury day 4, and it revealed improved transaminitis. The patient received intravenous anticoagulant therapy with low-molecular-weight heparin according to weight-based dosing for treatment. The CT of the whole abdomen performed 2 weeks after anticoagulant therapy showed small residual thrombosis in the left portal vein. The patient received intravenous anticoagulant therapy for a total of 3 months. On the follow-up visits at 1 month, 2 months, 6 months, and 1 year after the injury, the patients did not have any detectable abnormal symptoms. PVT post-blunt minor liver injury is an extremely rare complication. If the thrombosis is left untreated, serious morbidity and mortality can ensue. However, its diagnosis in asymptomatic patients is still challenging. Periodic imaging is necessary for highly suspected PVT, especially in liver injury with lacerations close to the porta hepatis, even in cases of a minor injury.
Humans ; Portal Vein ; Male ; Adult ; Wounds, Nonpenetrating/complications* ; Venous Thrombosis/diagnostic imaging* ; Liver/injuries* ; Acute Disease ; Accidents, Traffic

Portal hypertension (PHT) is a common complication of liver cirrhosis, which could be measured by the means of portal vein pressure (PVP). However, there is no report about an effective and reliable way to achieve noninvasive assessment of PVP so far. In this study, firstly, we collected ultrasound images and echo signals of different ultrasound contrast agent (UCA) concentrations and different pressure ranges in a low-pressure environment based on an
Contrast Media ; Humans ; Hypertension, Portal/diagnostic imaging* ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Portal Vein/diagnostic imaging* ; Ultrasonography

Two dogs presented with vomiting and head pressing. In both dogs, a large vessel was revealed in computed tomography (CT) angiography, which was found to leave the portal vein (PV) cranial to the splenomesenteric confluence and enter the pre-hepatic caudal vena cava cranial to the right renal vein. The flow of portal blood to the liver was not identified. Based on CT angiography, the dogs were suspected to have congenital PV aplasia with portocaval shunting. Diagnostic imaging of potential malformations for PV continuation should be conducted before attempting shunt closure.
Angiography ; Animals ; Diagnostic Imaging ; Dogs ; Head ; Liver ; Portal Vein ; Portasystemic Shunt, Surgical ; Renal Veins ; Vomiting

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

Objective To compare measurements of dual-energy CT iodine map parameters and liver perfusion CT parameters in patients with focal liver lesions using a third-generation dual-source CT scanner. Methods Between November 2015 and August 2016,33 patients with non-cystic focal lesions of liver were enrolled in this study. CT examinations were performed with a third-generation dual-source CT. The study CT protocol included a perfusion CT and dual-energy arterial and portal venous scans,with a time interval of 15 minutes. Iodine attenuation was measured at five region of interests including areas of high,medium,and low density within the lesion,as well as right and left liver parenchyma from the iodine map,while arterial liver perfusion (ALP),portal venous liver perfusion (PVP),and hepatic perfusion index (HPI) at the same location were measured from perfusion CT. The Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient was used to evaluate the relationship between iodine attenuation and perfusion parameters. Results The iodine attenuation at arterial phase showed significant intra-individual correlation with ALP (r=0.812,95% CI=0.728-0.885,P<0.001)and PVP (r=-0.209,95% CI=-0.323--0.073,P=0.007),but not significantly correlated with HPI (r=0.058,95% CI=0.046-0.498,P=0.461). The iodine attenuation at portal venous phase showed significant correlation with PVP (r=0.214,95% CI=0.072-0.361,P=0.005) but not with HPI(r=0.036,95% CI=-0.002-0.242,P=0.649). The mean effective dose of arterial phase and portal venous phase of dual-energy CT together [(3.53±1.17)mSv] was significantly lower than that of the perfusion CT [(14.53±0.45)mSv](t=25.212,P<0.001). Conclusion Iodine attenuation from arterial phase of dual energy CT demonstrates significant correlation with ALP and PVP,and iodine attenuation from portal venous phase demonstrates significant correlation with PVP.
Contrast Media ; Humans ; Iodine ; Liver ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Perfusion ; Portal Vein ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods

Objective To explore the diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS)for small focal liver lesions (FLLs). Methods The clinical data,CEUS findings,and pathology of 69 patients with small FLLs were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were grouped according to size of FLLs and the performance of CEUS was compared. Results The accuracy,sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value,and negative predictive value of CEUS for the 69 FLLs were 94.2%,95.2%,93.8%,87.0%,and 97.8%,respectively. Rate of fast wash-out in portal vein phase was lower in group of diameters ≤2 cm than that in group of diameters>2 cm (P<0.05). Conclusions CEUS has a high diagnostic value for small FLLs.However,the CEUS findings of malignant lesions smaller than 2 cm are not typical in the portal phase and therefore the diagnosis should also be based on clinical features.
Contrast Media ; Humans ; Liver Diseases ; diagnostic imaging ; Portal Vein ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Ultrasonography

Portal biliopathy is defined as abnormalities in the extra- and intrahepatic ducts and gallbladder of patients with portal hypertension. This condition is associated with extrahepatic venous obstruction and dilatation of the venous plexus of the common bile duct, resulting in mural irregularities and compression of the biliary tree. Most patients with portal biliopathy remain asymptomatic, but approximately 10% of them advance to symptomatic abdominal pain, jaundice, and fever. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography are currently used as diagnostic tools because they are noninvasive and can be used to assess the regularity, length, and degree of bile duct narrowing. Management of portal biliopathy is aimed at biliary decompression and reducing the portal pressure. Portal biliopathy has rarely been reported in Korea. We present a symptomatic case of portal biliopathy that was complicated by cholangitis and successfully treated with biliary endoscopic procedures.
Abdomen/diagnostic imaging ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Cholestasis/*diagnosis ; Humans ; Hypertension, Portal/*diagnosis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Portal Vein ; *Stents ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Cirrhosis can occur with the development of portal vein thrombosis (PVT). PVT may aggravate portal hypertension, and it can lead to hepatic decompensation. The international guideline recommends for anticoagulation treatment to be maintained for at least 3 months in all patients with acute PVT. Low-molecular-weight-heparin and changing to warfarin is the usual anticoagulation treatment. However, warfarin therapy is problematic due to a narrow therapeutic window and the requirement for frequent dose adjustment, which has prompted the development of novel oral anticoagulants for overcoming these problems. We report a 63-year-old female who experienced complete resolution of recurrent acute PVT in liver cirrhosis after treatment with rivaroxaban.
Administration, Oral ; Factor Xa Inhibitors/*therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis/*complications/diagnosis ; Middle Aged ; Portal Vein ; Recurrence ; Rivaroxaban/*therapeutic use ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Venous Thrombosis/complications/diagnostic imaging/*drug therapy

OBJEVTIVETo explore the feasibility and reliability of ultrasonic monitoring of portal vein (PV) and hepatic vein (HV) blood flow volume changes in the process of induced carcinogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma and the correlation of PV/HV blood flow volume ratio (Qpv/Qhv) with the severity of liver cirrhosis.

METHODSSD rats with diethylnitrosamine-induced liver carcinogenesis underwent regular liver ultrasound examinations including color flow imaging and pulsed Doppler examination. The main PV and HV blood flow parameters were measured to calculate Qpv/Qhv until successful induction of liver cancer.

RESULTSThe PV diameter increased significantly with the severity of liver cirrhosis in the rats (P<0.05), and the PV blood flow velocity reduced but the blood flow volume increased significantly in liver cancer and cirrhosis stages (P<0.05). Normal hepatic vein blood flow was significantly greater than that measured in liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma stages. The Qpv/Qhv measured in normal rats was significantly lower than that in liver cirrhosis and liver cancer stages, but the ratios were comparable between the latter two stages.

CONCLUSIONUltrasonography is reliable to monitor the change of liver hemodynamics in rats with induced liver carcinogenesis, in which the changes of Qpv/Qhv are correlated with the severity of liver cirrhosis.

Animals ; Blood Flow Velocity ; Blood Volume ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; blood supply ; diagnostic imaging ; Hemodynamics ; Hepatic Veins ; Liver Cirrhosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Liver Neoplasms ; blood supply ; diagnostic imaging ; Portal Vein ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reproducibility of Results ; Ultrasonography

Diagnostic Imaging ; Humans ; Liver Diseases ; pathology ; Portal Vein ; pathology