title: Multislice computed tomography angiography in pediatric liver transplantation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Preoperative delineation of any vascular anomalies offers planning for possible alteration of surgical procedures, especially in pediatric recipients undergoing living-related liver transplantation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We assess the efficacy of three-dimensional (3D) multislice computed tomography (CT) angiography in the hope of replacing conventional angiography as the pretransplant evaluation of the hepatic vascular system for potential recipients of liver transplantation.
  
  
  METHODS
  3D CT angiography was performed in 38 children with biliary atresia. Conventional angiography was also performed in the first 15 patients. Twelve patients underwent living-related liver transplantation. The findings on 3D CT angiography were compared with conventional angiography and operative findings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  3D CT angiography was successfully performed in 37 pediatric patients. All findings of 3D CT angiography on hepatic artery, portal vein, and inferior vena cava paralleled those of catheter angiography and operative findings. Four patients were unsuitable to receive living grafts because of pathologic insults of the hepatic artery (one patient) and the portal vein (three patients). Three patients were advised to undergo a venous graft for portal anastomoses. Eight patients demonstrated portosystemic shunts that may require closure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  3D CT angiography proves to be a better tool in the demonstration of the vascular system and identification of pathologic insults in pediatric patients. It is superior to conventional angiography because it is less invasive, more convenient, and more efficient in providing thorough preoperative information that would have a major impact on patient selection and surgical planning.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. f6591@ms4.hinet.net.
authors.forename: Yu Fan
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Chao Long
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jawan
authors.forename: Tung Liang
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Tai Yi
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yaw Sen
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chih Chi
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: de Villa
authors.forename: Shih Hor
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Chiu King
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Wah
authors.forename: Yuan Cheng
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Chiang
authors.forename: Hock Liew
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Eng
authors.forename: Tze Yu
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Shigeru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Goto
mesh_terms: D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction; D001656:Biliary Atresia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006499:Hepatic Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D017093:Liver Failure / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011300:Preoperative Care; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging