Calcification in the portal venous system demonstrated by computed tomography.

The CT appearance of calcification in the portal venous system in a patient with chronic alcoholic cirrhosis is presented. Report cases of radiologically detectable calcification in the portal system are rare, and most of them have been associated with longstanding portal hypertension. We presume that with CT this diagnosis will be made more frequently. In the presence of calcification in the portal venous system, portal vein thrombosis is highly probable. This information is of obvious importance to the surgeon contemplating a portal decompressive shunt procedure.