Nontumorous perfusion abnormalities of liver parenchyma adjacent to the falciform ligament as revealed by angiographic helical CT and angiography.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate nontumorous abnormalities in the liver around the falciform ligament as revealed by arteriography and helical CT arterial portography (CTAP) and helical CT during hepatic arteriography (CTHA).


METHODS
One hundred and seventeen patients simultaneously underwent hepatic arteriography and CTAP and CTHA of the common hepatic artery. The number, size, and shape of nontumorous defects of portal perfusion in the liver adjacent to the falciform ligament on CTAP as well as the nontumorous contrast enhancement in the same area on CTHA were determined. In 1 case, in which nontumorous enhancement was observed on CTHA, selective arteriography from the gastric arteries was performed.


RESULTS
On CTAP a nontumorous area of decreased portal perfusion of the liver around the falciform ligament was detected in 18 (15.4%) of the 117 patients, while nontumorous enhancement on CTHA was seen in 7 (6.0%). In 4 patients, both of these nontumorous abnormalities were observed. In the patient undergoing selective gastric arteriography, nonportal venous inflow to the liver in the direction to the liver adjacent to the falciform ligament was seen.


CONCLUSIONS
One cause of nontumorous vascular abnormalities adjacent to the falciform ligament as shown on angiographic helical CT is aberrant gastric venous inflow to this region.
Yamagami
T
T
Department of Radiology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
Nakamura
T
T
Iida
S
S
Kato
T
T
Nishimura
T
T
D000368:Aged; D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D006499:Hepatic Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008022:Ligaments / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008102:Liver Circulation; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011172:Portography; D013270:Stomach / Q000098:blood supply; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D003287:Contrast Media