Evaluation of the rabbit liver by direct portography and contrast-enhanced computed tomography: anatomical variations of the portal system and hepatic volume quantification

Eva Santa María,Paula García-Barquin,María Páramo,Bruno Sangro,José Miguel Madrid,Mercedes Iñarrairaegui,Meylin Caballeros,Alberto Benito,José Ignacio Bilbao

doi:10.1186/s41747-017-0011-8

Eva Santa María, Paula García-Barquin + Show 7 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s41747-017-0011-8

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Abstract

BackgroundThe study was aimed at: (1) describing the incidence of anatomic variations of the portal system in the rabbit using direct portography; and (2) estimating the liver volume and caudate lobe volume by using contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) in the same animal model.MethodsForty-six New Zealand white rabbits were included. All of them underwent direct portography and unenhanced CECT. Conventional liver rabbit portal system anatomy (type 1) consisted of the bifurcation of the main portal vein (MPV) into the right portal vein (RPV) and left portal vein (LPV), which subsequently divided into medial left portal vein and lateral left portal vein. Trifurcation of the LPV was considered type 2. The LPV that divides into four smaller branches was classified as type 3. Other configurations of the portal system, including particular cases of MPV branching, were grouped as type 4. Liver lobes were manually segmented.ResultsThe incidence of each type of portal system anatomy was: type 1, 67.4%; type 2, 15.2%; type 3, 13.0%); and type 4, 4.3%. The mean volume of the caudate lobe was 19.1 ml ± 5.7 ml and of the cranial lobes it was 66.7 ml ± 13.7 ml, and the total liver volume was 85.7 ml ± 16.7 ml.ConclusionsIn New Zealand white rabbits, type 1 is the prevalent type of portal system, liver volume is about 86 ml, and the caudate and cranial lobes are separated. This information could be important when planning experimental rabbit liver procedures.

Highlights

The study was aimed at: (1) describing the incidence of anatomic variations of the portal system in the rabbit using direct portography; and (2) estimating the liver volume and caudate lobe volume by using contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) in the same animal model
The original portal vein (OPV) is subdivided into the caudate portal vein (CPV) and the main portal vein (MPV) (Fig. 1a, b)
The CPV is located to the right side of the OPV and the MPV bifurcates into the right portal vein (RPV) and left portal vein (LPV), which further divides into the medial left portal vein (MLPV) and lateral left portal vein (LLPV)

Summary

Introduction

The study was aimed at: (1) describing the incidence of anatomic variations of the portal system in the rabbit using direct portography; and (2) estimating the liver volume and caudate lobe volume by using contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) in the same animal model. Páramo et al European Radiology Experimental (2017) 1:7 or interventional procedure performed on the liver of a rabbit requires in-depth knowledge of the anatomy and of the anatomical variations of this animal model. Rabbit liver is subdivided into four main lobes [3] These are the caudate lobe and three cranial lobes, comprising the right, medial left and lateral left lobes, each of them supplied by branches of the portal venous system (Fig. 1a). The OPV is subdivided into the caudate portal vein (CPV) and the main portal vein (MPV) (Fig. 1a, b). The left inferior portal vein (LIPV) is defined as an accessory branch originating from the LPV, the MPV or both [4]

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