OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence and associations of the impaired visibility of the hepatic veins (HV) on the multi-detector row computed tomography (MDCT) in cirrhotic patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty-seven consecutive cirrhotic patients undergoing triphasic liver MDCT were enrolled. The patency of the HV and the direction of the blood flow in the main portal vein, inhomogeneity of the liver, portal vein thrombosis (PVT), a spontaneous splenorenal shunt, splenic indexes (cm(3)), contour abnormalities, and enlargement of the fissure were evaluated. RESULTS: The prevalence of the impaired visibility of the HV was 38% in the patients with cirrhosis. No significant associations exist between the impaired visibility of the HV and age (p=0.96), sex (p=0.14), portal vein thrombosis (p=0.29), or splenic indexes (p=0.32). Inhomogeneity of the liver (p=0.0001), marked contour abnormalities, (p=0.0001), splenorenal shunt (p=0.02), enlargement of fissure (p=0.0001), and hepatofugal flow (p=0.01) were significantly associated with the impaired visibility of the HV. CONCLUSION: Inhomogeneity of the liver, marked contour abnormalities, and hepatofugal flow are independently associated with the impaired visibility of the HV in cirrhotic patients on hepatic venous phase CT.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence and associations of the impaired visibility of the hepatic veins (HV) on the multi-detector row computed tomography (MDCT) in cirrhotic patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty-seven consecutive cirrhotic patients undergoing triphasic liver MDCT were enrolled. The patency of the HV and the direction of the blood flow in the main portal vein, inhomogeneity of the liver, portal vein thrombosis (PVT), a spontaneous splenorenal shunt, splenic indexes (cm(3)), contour abnormalities, and enlargement of the fissure were evaluated. RESULTS: The prevalence of the impaired visibility of the HV was 38% in the patients with cirrhosis. No significant associations exist between the impaired visibility of the HV and age (p=0.96), sex (p=0.14), portal vein thrombosis (p=0.29), or splenic indexes (p=0.32). Inhomogeneity of the liver (p=0.0001), marked contour abnormalities, (p=0.0001), splenorenal shunt (p=0.02), enlargement of fissure (p=0.0001), and hepatofugal flow (p=0.01) were significantly associated with the impaired visibility of the HV. CONCLUSION: Inhomogeneity of the liver, marked contour abnormalities, and hepatofugal flow are independently associated with the impaired visibility of the HV in cirrhotic patients on hepatic venous phase CT.
Authors: Ronald H Wachsberg; Philip Bahramipour; Constantine T Sofocleous; Allison Barone Journal: Radiographics Date: 2002 Jan-Feb Impact factor: 5.333
Authors: Thomas J Bryce; Benjamin M Yeh; Aliya Qayyum; Preeyacha Pacharn; Nathan M Bass; Ying Lu; Fergus V Coakley Journal: AJR Am J Roentgenol Date: 2003-12 Impact factor: 3.959
Authors: K Ito; D G Mitchell; H W Hann; Y Kim; T Fujita; H Okazaki; K Honjo; N Matsunaga Journal: AJR Am J Roentgenol Date: 1999-09 Impact factor: 3.959