portography

Portography was undertaken that showed hepatic vein stenosis.

Portography is a radiography of the portal vein after injection of radioopaque contrast material.

Correct placement of the catheter was confirmed by portography (Fig 2) and direct portal venous pressure measurement was recorded.

Further evauation of radionuclide angiography in comparison with other non-invasive methods (ultrasound, computer tomography, and nuclear magnetic resonance) and conventional arterial portography merits consideration.

Confirmation of portal vein patency or occlusion relies predominantly upon venous phase arterial portography or splenoportography, both invasive and time consuming radiological procedures that may have complications.

At present, the accurate diagnosis of PVO requires either arterial portography or splenoportography, both of which are invasive radiological proceedures that may have complications, particularly in patients with a coagulopathy.

The diagnosis of PVO was confirmed in each case by conventional arterial portography or splenoportography with additional conclusive evidence from laparotomy and post mortem examination in two cases (see Table II).

It seems appropriate at the present time, therefore, that the suspicion of PVI, particularly in patients with decompensated liver disease as indicated by the presence of an appreciably reduced portal blood flow, needs to be confirmed by conventional arterial portography.

Karl RC, Choi J, Yeatman TJ, et al.: Role of Computed Tomographic Arterial Portography and Intraoperative Ultrasound in the Evaluation of Patients for Resectability of Hepatic Lesions.