Duplex doppler sonography in portal hypertension

Abstract

Conventional echotomography and duplex Doppler ultrasonography are noninvasive imaging techniques in measurement of hepatic blood flow. In the period from February 2002 to March 2004, 29,086 patients underwent ultrasound examination at the Institute of Radiology in Novi Sad, and 17,503 presented with symptoms of gastroenterology diseases and/or hepatobiliary tract diseases. 984 patients underwent duplex Doppler sonography. This prospective study included 50 patients with suspected or confirmed diagnosis of portal hypertension. All patients were examined using Siemens Versa Pro (3.5 MHz convex probe: B-mode, color and pulse Doppler). The following parameters were evaluated: Doppler sonoscore, congestion index and portal vein thrombosis. By analyzing gathered data, the diagnosis of portal hypertension was confirmed in 10% of patients at baseline, and in 6% of patients at last follow-up, six months later. Results of this investigation demonstrate the importance of duplex Doppler ultrasonography as an excellent noninvasive diagnostic method used for visualization of the direction and velocity of blood flow, as well as presence of portal vein thrombosis. This imaging modality is used as an initial diagnostic tool in the evaluation of the portohepatic circulation, especially in portal hypertension syndrome and in suspected portal vein thrombosis.