Ultrasound findings of various venous anomalies in the fetal liver

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess prenatal ultrasound findings of various venous anomalies in the fetal liver. Methods: For the past 3 years, we have diagnosed various venous anomalies in the fetal liver, including more than 80 cases of persistent right umbilical vein, 15 cases of umbilical vein varix, five cases of porto-hepatic venous shunt, two cases of left umbilical vein in situs inversus, two cases of left umbilical vein in left isomerism with situs ambiguus, two cases of total anomalous pulmonary venous return, two cases of abnormal braching of intrahepatic umbilical vein, and one case of obstruction of intrahepatic umbilical vein. We assessed prenatal and postnatal ultrasound findings and outcome of these anomalies. Results: Ventricular septal defect and multicystic dysplastic kidney were detected in one case of persistent right umbilical vein. and teteralogy of Fallo was diagnosed in the other one. However, all fetuses with persistent right umbilical vein showed good outcome. One fetus with portohepatic shunt revealed poor outcome with congestive heart failure. One of total anomalous pulmonary venous return was associated with severe heart anomaly and right isomerism. The other case was corrected surgically. The outcome of other anomalies was normal. Prenatal ultrasound with color Doppler revealed characteristic findings in each anoamly. Conclusions: Prenatal ultrasound with color Doppler was very helpful in the differential diagnosis of various venous anomalies in the fetal liver.