Color Doppler ultrasonography and contrast-enhanced ultrasound as a diagnostic tool for congenital intrahepatic portosystemic shunts

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the color Doppler ultrasonography and contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) findings of congenital intrahepatic portosystemic venous shunts (IPSVS).Methods Nineteen patients of congenital IPSVS were examined with color Doppler ultrasonography and CEUS.All patients were confirmed by CT angiography.The hepatic artery arrival time (HAAT),portal vein arrival time (PVAT),and hepatic vein arrival time (HVAT) on CEUS were recorded.The interval time between hepatic artery arrival time and hepatic vein arrival time (HA-HVTT) and the interval time between portal vein arrival time and hepatic vein arrival time (PV-HVTT) were calculated.Results The types of IPSVS between portal and systemic veins were based on Park's classification.Color Doppler ultrasonography showed abnormal communication between the portal vein branch and the hepatic veins,duplex Doppler ultrasonography showed abnormal spectral pattern from the portal vein such as undulating,triphasic waveform mimicked that of the hepatic vein.CEUS demonstrated abnormal communication between portal vein branch and hepatic vein.HVAT,HA-HVTT,and PV-HVTT were shorter statistically in congenital IPSVS group than those in cirrhosis and normal groups.Conclusions Congenital IPSVS is a rare vascular abnormality that is usually asymptomatic.Color Doppler ultrasonography is a useful tool for diagnosis of congenital IPSVS.CEUS provides helpful data for the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of congenital IPSVS. Key words: Ultrasonography; Microbubbles ; Congenital intrahepatic portosystemic shunts