title: Duplex-Doppler ultrasonography in the assessment of portal hypertension. Utility of the measurement of maximum portal flow velocity.
abstract: To assess the utility of Duplex-Doppler ultrasonography (DDUS) in the evaluation of portal haemodynamics we studied 52 patients with compensated liver cirrhosis (mean age 53.9 +/- 9.2 years, males 32, females 20) diagnosed by laparoscopy and biopsy. All patients underwent laparoscopy and oesophageal-gastro-duodenoscopy (OGDS): we postulated that haemodynamically significant portal hypertension (PH) was present if varices were detected at OGDS and/or if collateral veins were revealed at laparoscopy. DDUS was performed with a strictly standardized method and maximum portal flow velocity (PFV) was measured in all patients. Max-PFV ranged between 3.5 and 33.4 cm/s. Overall, 36 patients (69%) had a max-PFV lower than 20.3 cm/s (normal max-PFV range in our laboratory is 20.3-33.3 cm/s), while 16 patients (31%) had normal max-PFV values. Five patients (9.6%) had no signs of PH at laparoscopy and/or OGDS and all five had normal max-PFV values. The other 47 patients (90.4%) had collateral circuli at laparoscopy and 29/47 (61.7%) exhibited also varices at OGDS: max-PFV was lower than 20.3 cm/s in 36/47 patients (76.6%). The measurement of max-PFV demonstrated a 76.6% sensitivity and a 100% specificity in detecting PH, with 100% positive predictive value and 31% negative predictive value. Three patients with PH and apparently normal max-PFV values exhibited a recanalization of the umbilical vein.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Modena University, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: D'Alimonte
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cioni
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cristani
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ventura
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Romagnoli
mesh_terms: D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011168:Portal System / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014463:Ultrasonography