Relationship between left biliary duct system and left portal vein: evaluation with three-dimensional portocholangiography.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between the left biliary duct system and the left portal vein by using in vivo analysis of the human liver with three-dimensional portocholangiography.


METHODS
Twenty-seven patients underwent helical computed tomography during both arterial portography and cholangiography. Three-dimensional portocholangiograms were reconstructed to evaluate the relationship between the left biliary duct system and the left portal vein, in particular the umbilical portion.


RESULTS
In 16 (59%) patients, segment II and III ducts united just above the umbilical portion or laterally to it, and the segment IV duct joined medially to the umbilical portion. In eight (30%) patients, segment III and IV ducts united medially to the umbilical portion and the segment II duct joined at a point close to the hepatic hilum. In three (11%) patients, three ducts from segments II-IV united at a position immediately medial to the umbilical portion.


CONCLUSIONS
Three types of left bile duct anatomy were seen in relation to the left portal vein.
Department of Academic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuou-ku, Chiba 260-0856, Japan. cho@maple.ocn.ne.jp
Akihiro
A
Cho
Shinichi
S
Okazumi
Youshin
Y
Yoshinaga
Yukika
Y
Ishikawa
Munemasa
M
Ryu
Takenori
T
Ochiai
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001652:Bile Ducts / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D002758:Cholangiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed