"Portal double ductopathy sign" in patients with portal vein cavernous transformation.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to determine to what extent portal vein cavernous transformation affects the biliary tract and pancreatic duct system concurrently.


METHODS
Patients who had liver cirrhosis, liver malignancy, history of chronic alcohol use, chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, or surgery of upper abdomen were excluded. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography was performed on all patients. The radiographic images from the biliary and pancreatic systems obtained at the same session were evaluated.


RESULTS
In 36 patients, both systems were evaluated. In 2 out of 36 patients, the biliary system was normal, while in 5 patients (13.9%) the pancreatic duct was found to be normal. Thus, 31 patients (12 men, 19 women) had successful visualization. Additionally, 31 out of 36 patients had luminal narrowing throughout the pancreatic duct, local atrophy at head of the pancreas with moderate dilatation behind the narrowed segment. These findings were not found in control patients. In 4 patients who underwent splenectomy for severe hypersplenism, radiological findings were consistent with surgical findings.


CONCLUSIONS
The above mentioned morphological findings which are demonstrated in biliary and pancreatic duct are novel findings which the authors propose to call "portal double ductopathy sign" when both ducts are affected concurrently.
Bayraktar
Yusuf
Y
Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine Department of Gastroenterology, 06100 Sihhiye, Ankara, Turkey. bayrak@hacettepe.edu.tr
Harmanci
Ozgur
O
Ersoy
Osman
O
Aydinli
Musa
M
Balkanci
Ferhun
F
D000328:Adult; D001659:Biliary Tract / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002760:Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde; D003097:Collateral Circulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010183:Pancreatic Ducts / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011169:Portal Vein; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D055815:Young Adult