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.
Cho
Akihiro
A
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
Okazumi
Shinichi
S
Yoshinaga
Youshin
Y
Ishikawa
Yukika
Y
Ryu
Munemasa
M
Ochiai
Takenori
T
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