Color-coded Doppler evaluation of cholecystic varices in portal hypertension.

A 11-year-old white girl presented with a diagnosis of thrombosis of the portal vein after newborn septicemia. Duplex sonography revealed significant narrowing of the portal vein and its right and left branches. A Doppler signal could only be obtained in certain short segments of the portal vein and indicated hepatopetal flow. Color-coded Doppler sonography showed extensive varicose veins in the gallbladder with a bigger draining vessel running to the porta hepatis. Documentation of varices like those in the gallbladder wall confirms the diagnosis of portal hypertension and may increase the sensitivity of Doppler sonography. Color mapping has the potential to detect unexpected flow and to analyze blood flow to better advantage.