Open AccessPortal hypertension: Imaging of portosystemic collateral pathways and associated image-guided therapy
Author(s) -
Murad Bandali,
Anirudh Mirakhur,
Edward W. Lee,
Mollie Ferris,
D.J. Sadler,
Robin Gray,
Jason Wong
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
world journal of gastroenterology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.427
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 2219-2840
pISSN - 1007-9327
DOI - 10.3748/wjg.v23.i10.1735
Subject(s) - medicine , portal hypertension , portal venous pressure , radiology , collateral circulation , magnetic resonance imaging , abdomen , cirrhosis
Portal hypertension is a common clinical syndrome, defined by a pathologic increase in the portal venous pressure. Increased resistance to portal blood flow, the primary factor in the pathophysiology of portal hypertension, is in part due to morphological changes occurring in chronic liver diseases. This results in rerouting of blood flow away from the liver through collateral pathways to low-pressure systemic veins. Through a variety of computed tomographic, sonographic, magnetic resonance imaging and angiographic examples, this article discusses the appearances and prevalence of both common and less common portosystemic collateral channels in the thorax and abdomen. A brief overview of established interventional radiologic techniques for treatment of portal hypertension will also be provided. Awareness of the various imaging manifestations of portal hypertension can be helpful for assessing overall prognosis and planning proper management.