title: The value of contrast enhanced ultrasound in the evaluation of the nature of portal vein thrombosis.
abstract: Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is a relatively common complication in patients with liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, but might also occur in the absence of liver disease. Ultrasound (US) is the first imaging method used for assessing PVT.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the utility of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) for the differentiation between benign and malignant PVT.
  
  
  METHODS
  from October 2009 to October 2010, 38 PVTs were evaluated by means of ultrasound (standard, Doppler and CEUS). 29 PVT were in patients with liver cirrhosis and 9 in subjects without liver cirrhosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  15 of 38 patients (39.5%) had benign PVT and 23 patients (60.5%) had malignant PVT. Results of CEUS examination were conclusive in 37/38 (97.2%) of the examinations for PVT, allowing the differentiation between benign and malignant thrombosis. When the result was inconclusive, another imaging method was performed (MRI).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CEUS is a very good method for the evaluation of benign or malignant nature of portal vein thrombosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timişoara. mireladanila@gmail.com
authors.forename: Mirela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dănilă
authors.forename: Ioan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sporea
authors.forename: Alina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Popescu
authors.forename: Roxana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sirli
authors.forename: Mădălina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sendroiu
mesh_terms: D003287:Contrast Media; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010743:Phospholipids; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler / Q000379:methods*; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D010743:Phospholipids; C420843:contrast agent BR1; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride