title: Pattern of branching of the left portal vein: an anatomo-radiological study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Branching variations of the left portal vein can be managed but they may require technical adaptation. The aim of the present study was to investigate the pattern of ramification of the left portal vein in vascular casts and in radiological images.
  
  
  METHODS
  50 vascular casts and 200 computed tomography (CT) angiographies of the upper abdomen were analyzed. Analyses of the vascular casts and of the radiological images were conducted to evaluate the morphology of the left liver, the modality of division of the portal vein, and the number of branches destined for segments 2, 3, 4.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the vascular casts the portal vein presented bifurcation in 75%, trifurcation in 20%, and quadrifurcation in 5%, whereas in the radiological study the portal vein presented bifurcation in 90% and trifurcation in 10% of the cases. For segment 2 in the vascular casts, in their CT and in the radiologic in vivo study a number from 1 to 3 branches was found, coming from the medial or posterior aspects of the left portal vein. For segment 3 in the vascular casts, in their CT and in the radiologic in vivo study a number from 1 to 6 branches was found, coming from the posterior and medial aspects of the left portal vein and its the cul-de-sac. For segment 4 in the vascular casts, in their CT a number from 5 to 9 branches was found (in the radiologic in vivo study from 4 to 9), coming from the posterior and ventral aspects of the left portal vein and from its cul-de-sac. No branches were found to come from the lateral aspect of the left portal vein. Moreover, the modality of branching of the left portal vein correlated with the morphology of left liver.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Knowledge of the pattern of branching of the left portal vein is important for surgical purpose. CT angiography is a valuable preoperative examination to visualize the branching pattern of adult patients.
authors: Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Anatomy, University of Padova, Via A. Gabelli 65, 35127, Padua, Italy.
authors: Veronica
authors: V
authors: Macchi
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Porzionato
authors: Aldo
authors: A
authors: Morra
authors: Giovanni Franco
authors: GF
authors: Zanon
authors: Raffaele
authors: R
authors: De Caro
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
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