OBJECTIVE: To assess the clinical application of preoperative retrograde portal venography for children with cavernous transformation of the portal vein (CTPV). METHODS: The clinical data of 8 cases of CTPV admitted in the Children's Hospital of Zhejiang University from January 2018 to September 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Preoperative retrograde portography was performed to determine the corresponding vascular morphology and size of portal vein system. If the retrograde portography showed that the left branch of the shadow portal vein was unobstructed and its diameter was greater than 3 mm, Rex shunt would be performed after anatomic exploration of Rex recess; if retrograde portography showed that the diameter of left portal vein was less than 3 mm, but the diameter of left renal vein dissected during shunt operation was greater than 5 mm, Warren operation was selected. The patients were followed up for 1, 3 and 6 months after discharge, and then were followed up every 6 months. RESULTS: Retrograde portal venography was successfully performed in 8 child patients.The anatomical position and size of main portal vein and its left and right branches, left renal vein and other important vessels were determined. Among them, there was the well-developed left and right branches of portal vein in 4 child patients, in which the left and right branches of portal vein converged together, but did not communicate with the main portal vein. In addition, the left branch diameter of the portal vein was greater than 3 mm, and the anatomical exploration results during shunt were consistent with it, so Rex shunt was performed. In the other 4 cases, the left branch diameter of the portal vein was small (less than 3 mm) in 3 cases, and the right branch was not clearly developed. Moreover, the left branch of the portal vein was poorly developed and almost occluded in 1 case. However, the left renal vein in these 4 child patients was well developed, the blood flow was unobstructed and the diameter was greater than 5 mm, so Warren operation was performed. Seven patients recovered well after the operation, and the other one had digestive tract rudimentary one year after operation, and the condition was stable after conservative treatment. CONCLUSIONS The preoperative retrograde portal venography can be used to evaluate the portal vein system in children with CTPV, which provides important clinical basis for making appropriate treatment plan before surgery.
Child ; Humans ; Portal Vein/surgery* ; Portography ; Retrospective Studies

A 53-year-old male with hepatocellular carcinoma underwent orthotopic liver transplantation. Preoperative computed tomography revealed main portal vein luminal narrowing by flat thrombi and the development of cavernous transformation. On post-transplantation day 1, thrombotic portal venous occlusion occurred, and emergency thrombectomy was performed. Subsequent Doppler ultrasonography and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography confirmed the restoration of normal portal venous flow. The next day, however, decreased portal venous velocity was observed via Doppler ultrasonography, and serum liver enzymes and bilirubin levels remained persistently elevated. Direct portography identified massive perfusion steal through prominent splenorenal collateral veins. Stent insertion and balloon angioplasty of the portal vein were performed, and subsequent Doppler ultrasonography demonstrated normalized portal flow parameters. Afterwards, the serum liver enzymes and bilirubin levels rapidly normalized.
Angioplasty, Balloon ; Bilirubin ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Emergencies ; Humans ; Liver Transplantation* ; Liver* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Perfusion* ; Phenobarbital ; Portal Vein ; Portasystemic Shunt, Surgical ; Portography ; Stents ; Thrombectomy ; Transplants* ; Ultrasonography ; Ultrasonography, Doppler ; Veins

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

We present 2 patients showing afferent jejunal varix bleeding around hepaticojejunostomy caused by extrahepatic portal vein obstruction after pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy (PPPD). The case 1 was a 58-year-old woman who had recurrent anemia and hematochezia 3 years after undergoing PPPD. On the portography, the main portal vein was obliterated and collaterals around hepaticojejunostomy were developed. After percutaneous transhepatic balloon dilatation and stent placement through the obliterated portal vein, jejunal varices had disappeared and thereafter no bleeding occurred for 32 months. The case 2 was a 71-year-old man who had frequent melena 7 years after PPPD. Portal stent insertion was first tried, but failed due to severe stenosis of the main portal vein. Therefore, meso-caval shunt operation was attempted in order to reduce the variceal flow. Although an episode of a small amount of melena occurred one month after the shunt operation, there was no occurrence of bleeding for the next 8 months. For the treatment of jejunal varices, a less invasive approach, such as the angiographic intervention of stent insertion, balloon dilatation, or embolization is recommended first. Surgical operations, such as a shunt or resection of the jejunal rim, could be considered when noninvasive approaches have failed.
Aged ; Anemia ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Dilatation ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Melena ; Middle Aged ; Pancreaticoduodenectomy ; Portal Vein ; Portography ; Stents ; Varicose Veins

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

OBJECTIVETo explore the value of ultrasono-portography using SonoVue in selective portal vein embolization (SPVE).

METHODSTwenty-eight patients with malignant liver tumors underwent percutaneous ultrasound-guided SPVE. The procedure was performed under color Doppler ultrasound guidance in 11 cases (conventional group) and under guidance with ultrasono-portography using SonoVue in 17 cases (contrast group). Contrast-enhanced CT was performed 2-4 weeks after SPVE to evaluate the effect of embolization.

RESULTSThe procedure of SPVE was aborted in 3 cases in which ultrasono-portography showed contraindications. Postoperative contrast-enhanced CT showed ectopic embolization in 2 cases in the conventional group, and none of the cases in the contrast group showed ectopic embolization.

CONCLUSIONUltrasono-portography using SonoVue can provide important assistance for SPVE.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; pathology ; therapy ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Portal Vein ; Portography ; methods ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color

PURPOSE: Portal branching patterns (ramification) that differ from those previously described are occasionally encountered during liver surgery. We studied the portal vein branching patterns by performing 64 MDCT. METHODS: A total of 100 patients with normal liver underwent MDCT during arterial portography. Next, the 3 dimensional portograms were reconstructed and the portal branching patterns were assessed. RESULTS: In 80 (80%) of the 100 patients we examined, the right anterior portal vein bifurcated into the ventral and dorsal branches. Only 20 percent of the patients showed the classic pattern, that is, bifurcating into the right anterior superior (P8) and right anterior inferior branches (P5). The portal branches in segment 5 showed many variations in their origins and numbers. The portal branches in segment 7 originated from both the right anterior and posterior portal veins, and not just the right posterior portal vein. CONCLUSION: Instead of dividing the right liver into the superior and inferior segments, we proposed that the right liver can be divided into 3 segments, which are designated as the right anterior, middle and posterior segments. In the view of the vascular watershed, the division of the right anterior and posterior sections by using the right hepatic vein might be inaccurate.
Hepatic Veins ; Humans ; Liver ; Portal Vein ; Portography

Idiopathic portal hypertension (IPH) is characterized by portal hypertension and splenomegaly without portal vein obstruction or significant liver disease. Although IPH may occasionally be accompanied by portal vein thrombosis (PVT) and extrahepatic portal vein thrombosis (EHPVT), recurrent PVT and EHPVT are very rare in IPH. Herein, we report the case of a 30-year-old male who developed IPH with recurrent PVT and EHPVT. Eleven years earlier, the patient had undergone splenectomy and endoscopic sclerotherapy due to hypersplenism and esophageal variceal bleeding, respectively. Ten years earlier, the patient had suffered recurrent esophageal variceal bleeding, which was treated via band ligation, and was diagnosed with IPH via portography and liver biopsy. Then, 8 years prior to presentation, the patient complained of acute abdominal pain and was diagnosed with PVT and EHPVT. After a 6-month course of anticoagulation therapy, the PVT and EHPVT resolved completely. However, 8 years later, he complained again of abdominal pain and was diagnosed with recurrent PVT and EHPVT.
Abdominal Pain ; Adult ; Biopsy ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hypersplenism ; Hypertension, Portal ; Ligation ; Liver ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Liver Diseases ; Male ; Mesenteric Veins ; Pancytopenia ; Portal Vein ; Portography ; Sclerotherapy ; Splenectomy ; Splenomegaly ; Thrombosis

The portosystemic venous shunts within the hepatic parenchyma, a rare disease can lead to hepatic encephalopathy. The etiology of intrahepatic portosystemic venous shunt may be either congenital or acquired such as secondary to portal hypertension due to chronic liver damage. A 61-year-old women was admitted to our hospital with recurrent encephalopathy. Liver function tests, abdominal computerized tomography, ultrasound and arterial portography revealed an intrahepatic portosystemic venous shunt in a noncirrhotic liver. Thus, recurrent encephalopathy should be closely evaluated for detection of rare causes.
Female ; Hepatic Encephalopathy* ; Humans ; Hypertension, Portal ; Liver ; Liver Function Tests ; Middle Aged ; Portography ; Rare Diseases ; Ultrasonography

PURPOSE: Hypervascular hyperplastic nodules in those patients with chronic alcoholic liver disease and who are hepatitis B and C negative have recently been reported on. The purpose of this study was to correlate the radiologic and pathologic findings with the clinical significance of these hypervascular hyperplastic nodules in chronic alcoholic liver disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included eight hypervascular nodules of seven patients with chronic alcoholic liver disease, and these patients had abused alcohol for more than 20 years. Eight hypervascular nodules were seen on the arterial phase of dynamic CT scans, but the possibility of HCC was excluded pathologically (n=4) or clinically. The radiologic and pathologic findings, and the changes of these nodules on follow up CT scans were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: All nodules showed good enhancement on the arterial phase. The tissue equilibrium phase of the dynamic CT scans showed isodensity in seven patients and low density in one patient. Ultrasound scans revealed hypoechoic findings for three nodules, isoechoic findings for two nodules, hyperechoic findings for one nodule, and two nodules were not detected. Angiograms (n=6) showed late incremental tumor staining, and all the nodules were well seen on the sinusoidal phase. CT during hepatic angiography (n=4) showed well stained tumor. CT during arterial portography (n=4) showed no defect in three nodules and nodular defect in one nodule. The MR images (n=3) showed low signal intensity in two nodules and iso-signal intensity in one nodule on T2WI. Five of six cases for which follow up CT scans were performed showed decrease in size and one was disappeared. CONCLUSION: Radiologically, it is often difficult to differentiate the hypervascular hyperplastic nodules seen in the chronic alcoholic liver disease from hepatocellular carcinoma, and histological confirmation is needed for excluded hepatocellular carcinoma. However, late tumor staining during the sinusoidal phase without any blood supply by feeding vessels or any arterioportal shunt on the angiogram, isodensity during the tissue equilibrium phase of dynamic CT and low signal intensity on T2WI may suggest the presence of hypervascular hyperplastic nodule.
Alcoholics* ; Angiography ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hepatitis B ; Humans ; Liver Diseases, Alcoholic* ; Liver Neoplasms ; Portography ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography