title: Nontumorous vascular malformations in the liver: color Doppler ultrasonographic findings.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate color Doppler and spectral wave characteristics of nontumorous vascular malformations in the liver.
  
  
  METHODS
  From September 1995 to January 2001, 32 cases of vascular malformations were identified by means of color Doppler ultrasonography and spectral wave analysis. Computed tomography, angiography, or both were performed in all cases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five arterioportal and 14 portovenous malformations, 1 arteriovenous malformation, and 4 portoportal and 8 venovenous shunts were detected. Associations with Rendu-Osler-Weber syndrome in 6 cases and with cirrhotic liver in 12 cases were found Fourteen patients were liver disease free. In 3 cases, interventional procedures were necessary to reduce portal hypertension or cardiac dysfunction. The incidence of finding vascular malformations in 12,000 patients was 0.1%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nontumorous vascular malformations are rare disorders in the liver. They may appear in patients with healthy livers and in patients with portal hypertension. Color Doppler ultrasonography and spectral wave analysis are capable of showing and differentiating different types of hepatic vascular malformations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University Hospital of Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Gerd
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bodner
authors.forename: Siegfried
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Peer
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karner
authors.forename: Reinhold
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Perkmann
authors.forename: Beate
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Neuhauser
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Vogel
authors.forename: Werner
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jaschke
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001165:Arteriovenous Malformations / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000098:blood supply*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013683:Telangiectasia, Hereditary Hemorrhagic / Q000150:complications; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color