Three-Dimensional Computed Tomography Scan Analysis of Anatomical Variations in the Hepatic Veins

Abstract

Hepatic venous anatomy is a significant component of liver segmental anatomy, and its high variability is a challenge for hepatobiliary surgeons. This was a retrospective study of 98 consecutive patients with no cirrhosis or malignant tumors. IQQA-Liver software was used to display and analyze three-dimensional (3D) images of the hepatic veins and their branches and variations. The average liver volume was 1272.65 ± 322.04 mL; the left hepatic veins drained the smallest parts (21.13 ± 5.41%) of the liver compared with the right (35.58 ± 12.41%) and middle hepatic veins (34.64 ± 8.76%). The most common pattern was that the left hepatic veins shared a common trunk with the middle hepatic veins in 51cases (52.0%). The visualization rate of the inferior right hepatic vein (IRHV) was 43.9%, and its drainage volume was 179.27 ± 128.79 mL. In 11.2% of patients, the drainage volume for the IRHV was larger than for the right hepatic vein (RHV). The patterns of the left hepatic and middle hepatic veins were also observed and classified. Umbilical hepatic veins appeared in 75 cases (76.5%), and anterior fissure hepatic veins appeared in 74 cases (75.5%).The rate of the presence of a separate segment 4 vein was 15.3%, and 77 patients had obvious superficial veins. There was a statistically significant correlation between the diameter of the IRHVs and the drainage volume of the IRHVs and RHVs. More detailed information about the anatomical features and variations of hepatic venous veins in Chinese people was provided using 3D reconstructions, and this will assist in more precise liver surgeries.