Mohammed Aejaz Syed1, Tae Kyoung Kim, Hyun-Jung Jang. 1. Department of Medical Imaging, University Health Networks and Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. smaejaz@hotmail.com
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Our aim is to describe imaging findings of portal and hepatic vein thrombosis in pyogenic liver abscess on contrast-enhanced MDCT and to determine the incidence and evolving patterns on follow-up imaging. METHODS: Over a 5-year period, 67 patients with liver abscess underwent single-phase (n=30) or triphasic (n=37) contrast-enhanced CT. Images were reviewed for the presence of portal vein (PV) or hepatic vein (HV) thrombosis, regional parenchymal attenuation, and changes on follow-up CT. RESULTS: Venous thrombosis was seen in 28/67 patients (42%), involving PV in 16/67 (24%) and HV vein in 15/67 (22%); 3/67 (4%) had both PV and HV thrombosis. Thrombosis was seen as non-enhancing linear structures without expanding the lumen in all cases. Regional parenchymal attenuation during the portal-phase was hyperattenuating (10/16, 63%) or isoattenuating (6/16, 38%) in PV thrombosis, and mostly hypoattenuating (13/15, 87%) in HV thrombosis (P<.001). Of 27 patients with follow-up contrast-enhanced CT, venous thrombosis resolved in 10/27 (37%) within 6 months and persisted in 17/27 (63%) for 3-38 months, including 13 PV thrombosis and 4 HV thrombosis. Interval parenchymal atrophy was seen only in four all with persistent PV thrombosis. CONCLUSIONS: Both PV and HV thrombosis frequently occurs in liver abscess and is seen as non-enhancing linear structures without expanding the lumen on contrast-enhanced CT. Regional attenuation changes in hepatic vein thrombosis were often hypoattenuating whereas none with portal vein thrombosis showed hypoattenuation.
OBJECTIVE: Our aim is to describe imaging findings of portal and hepatic vein thrombosis in pyogenic liver abscess on contrast-enhanced MDCT and to determine the incidence and evolving patterns on follow-up imaging. METHODS: Over a 5-year period, 67 patients with liver abscess underwent single-phase (n=30) or triphasic (n=37) contrast-enhanced CT. Images were reviewed for the presence of portal vein (PV) or hepatic vein (HV) thrombosis, regional parenchymal attenuation, and changes on follow-up CT. RESULTS:Venous thrombosis was seen in 28/67 patients (42%), involving PV in 16/67 (24%) and HV vein in 15/67 (22%); 3/67 (4%) had both PV and HV thrombosis. Thrombosis was seen as non-enhancing linear structures without expanding the lumen in all cases. Regional parenchymal attenuation during the portal-phase was hyperattenuating (10/16, 63%) or isoattenuating (6/16, 38%) in PV thrombosis, and mostly hypoattenuating (13/15, 87%) in HV thrombosis (P<.001). Of 27 patients with follow-up contrast-enhanced CT, venous thrombosis resolved in 10/27 (37%) within 6 months and persisted in 17/27 (63%) for 3-38 months, including 13 PV thrombosis and 4 HV thrombosis. Interval parenchymal atrophy was seen only in four all with persistent PV thrombosis. CONCLUSIONS: Both PV and HV thrombosis frequently occurs in liver abscess and is seen as non-enhancing linear structures without expanding the lumen on contrast-enhanced CT. Regional attenuation changes in hepatic vein thrombosis were often hypoattenuating whereas none with portal vein thrombosis showed hypoattenuation.
Authors: James S Molton; Yen Lin Chee; Tiffany P Hennedige; Sudhakar K Venkatesh; Sophia Archuleta Journal: PLoS One Date: 2015-10-07 Impact factor: 3.240