Hepatic arterioportal shunts not directly related to hepatocellular carcinoma: findings on CT during hepatic arteriography, CT arterial portography and dual phase spiral CT.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate findings of arterioportal shunts not directly related to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) which were seen within third-order portal branches on computed tomography (CT) during hepatic arteriography (CTHA), arterial portography (CTAP), and dual phase spiral CT.


METHODS
At CTHA in 112 patients, we examined third-order portal vein branches to find arterioportal shunts not directly related to HCC. Six cases were found. We evaluated the findings of these shunts on CTHA and investigated whether CTAP (n = 6) and dual phase spiral CT (n = 5) showed perfusion defects in the corresponding areas on arterioportal shunts.


RESULTS
Five of six cases showed abrupt visualization of portal branches without visualization of the proximal portion of CTHA. Five of six cases showed no perfusion defect on CTAP and no hyperattenuating area on CTHA. Four of five cases showed no hyperattenuating area on hepatic arterial phase spiral CT.


CONCLUSIONS
Arterioportal shunts not directly related to HCC and occuring within third-order portal branches mainly showed abrupt visualization of portal branches on CTHA. These occurred frequently without perfusion defects on CTAP and without a hyperattenuating area on CTHA and hepatic arterial phase spiral CT.Park, C. M. (2000). Clinical Radiology55, 465-470.
Park
C M
CM
Department of Radiology, Korean University College of Medicine, Guro.
Cha
S H
SH
Kim
D H
DH
Choi
J A
JA
Cha
I H
IH
Kim
Y H
YH
Chung
K B
KB
Suh
W H
WH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001164:Arteriovenous Fistula / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000098:blood supply / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006499:Hepatic Artery / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011172:Portography / Q000379:methods; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
D003287:Contrast Media