Normal vascular and biliary hepatic anatomy: 3D demonstration by multidetector CT

Abstract

Due to constant innovations in radiological and surgical techniques, more accurate results are expected in the diagnostic and therapeutic procedures related to hepatic pathology. The aim of this work was to demonstrate the normal hepatic vascular and biliary anatomy using cadaveric livers and CT scans of the affected livers. Furthermore, using the CT scans, the authors intended to illustrate the most common morphological variations of the vascular and biliary anatomy. Four human cadaveric livers were injected with colored silicone mixed with radiological contrast solution in the common bile duct, in the proper hepatic artery, in the portal vein and in the inferior vena cava near the ostia of the hepatic veins (only one of these structures was injected in each liver). After obtaining the CT scans, 3D rendered models were created, which demonstrated the normal hepatic anatomy of the vascular and biliary structures. The International Anatomical Nomenclature was used for their classification (based on Couinaud's work). The 3D rendered CT models were also modified to illustrate the most common normal variations of the hepatic anatomy (found in the literature).