Intrahepatic portal-hepatic venous shunts demonstrated by US, CT, and MR imaging.
OBJECTIVE
Radiological findings were investigated in 6 cases of intrahepatic portal-hepatic venous shunt (IPHVS) without chronic liver disease.


METHODS
Six patients with IPHVS were examined using US, CT and MR imaging. US was performed in all patients and color Doppler imaging in 5 patients. CT was performed after i.v. bolus injection of contrast medium in 4 patients. MR imaging and MR angiography were performed in one patient.


RESULTS
The shunt was present in the right lobe in 4 patients and in the left lobe in 2 patients. The shunts consisted of focally dilated or tubular vessels (1 aneurysmal) in 4 patients, and multiple small vessels in 2 patients. US revealed anechoic structures with various configurations at the shunt. Color Doppler imaging could detect blood flow in various directions in the shunt vessels in 5 patients. CT and MR images showed these abnormal vascular structures in the liver. MR angiography was also useful for evaluating the relationship between the portal and the hepatic veins.


CONCLUSIONS
Color Doppler imaging was the best modality for evaluation of IPHVS.
Department of Radiology, Miyazaki Medical College, Japan.
Y
Y
Kakitsubata
S
S
Kakitsubata
H
H
Kiyomizu
T
T
Ogawa
K
K
Kato
K
K
Watanabe
D000368:Aged; D003097:Collateral Circulation; D005260:Female; D006503:Hepatic Veins / Q000002:abnormalities*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000098:blood supply*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008297:Male; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000002:abnormalities*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color