Portal vein thrombosis
Monday 12 October 2009, Rudolf Králik, M.D. and Branislav Kunčak, M. D.
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Ultrasonographic features of portal vein thrombosis
Acute thrombosis
- Echogenic material within the vessel lumen (thrombus may be anechogenic)
- Color doppler demonstrates absence of flow in portal vein
Chronic thrombosis
- In case of complete portal vein thrombosis color doppler shows no flow in portal vein
- Detection of collateral vessels (in nearly all patients with complete portal vein obstruction)
- Finding of a cavernomatous transformation of the portal vein- on ultrasound it is seen as echogenic structure at the porta hepatis (fibrosis) with a network of tortuous anechoic channels (collaterals) around or within this structure (flow can be detected within them)
- Unidentifiable portal vein- portal vein may become a fibrotis cord and may be difficult to visualise
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Bigger image, Ultrasonography
Fig. 1
Echogenic thrombus within the portal vein. Color doppler showing the flow in the residual lumen.
